- Legal Guardians – Melameid, Grandparents, Dorm, Foster home, Boarding house:[1]
All individuals and institutions who act in the capacity of a legal guardian or educator of a child, bear responsibility for the child’s religious and moral education. They are obligated to guide, instruct, and ensure that the child is raised according to the principles of Torah and mitzvot, fulfilling the educational duties typically incumbent on a parent. [Seemingly, however, this obligation is only upon male legal guardians, however, regarding female legal guardians, then they are no different than the status of a mother of which some Poskim[2] rule that a mother is never obligated in the education of her children even if her husband is not around, as explained above in B.]
[1] See Admur 167:23 “And all this is regarding an adult who does not know how to bless. But to train children, one is obligated to bless on every blessing of enjoyment in order to educate them in the mitzvos. And even if there is no obligation of chinuch (education) upon him, such as one who is not from his household.”; Aruch Hashulchan C.M. 290:30 regarding an Aputrapis; Imrei Yosher 3; Yad David Pesachim 88a; Sdei Chemed Mareches Ches Kelal Get; Betzel Hachochma 5:3; Shevet Halevi 8:95; Chanoch Lanar 2:7 footnote 15; Piskeiy Teshuvos 343:1 footnote 12; Encyclopedia Talmudit ibid p. 166 footnotes 70-75; See regarding the Chiyuv of an Aputrapis to provide the children with Mitzvah objects: Tosefta Terumos 1; Gittin 52a; Pesachim 88a; Rambam Nechalos 11:10; Michaber C.M. 290:15; Admur 434:16; Chok Yaakov 434:15
Other opinions: Some Poskim rule there is no obligation upon any legal guarding other than the father to educate children under his care. [Rashi Pesachim 88a regarding a master of a slave; Mishneh Halachos 3:26 See Chikrei Lev O.C. 70, Pesach Hadvir 343:3, and Encyclopedia Talmudit ibid footnote 75 that according to those who hold a mother is exempt actually exempt all legal guardians, whether male or female.]
[2] See Chikrei Lev O.C. 70; Pesach Hadvir 343:3; Encyclopedia Talmudit ibid footnote 75
