May one feed a child a Rabbinical Issur for the sake of educating him for a Mitzva?[1]
A Mitzvah that the child will fulfill as an adult: Any matter that serves the purpose of chinuch— for the purpose of educating a child to perform a mitzvah when he reaches bar mitzvah—may be given to a child even if it involves a prohibition. For example, one may feed a child from the Pesach offering even though the child was not included in the original registration at the time of the slaughter, in which case an adult would be prohibited from eating it. Nevertheless, since the intent is to educate the child in the performance of the mitzvah, it is permitted in the case of a minor.
A Mitzvah that the child will not fulfill as an adult:[2] The above allowance only applies if the mitzvah is one that the child will be able to fulfill upon reaching bar mitzvah. However, if the mitzvah is one that the child will be unable to fulfill upon reaching bar mitzvah, then the prohibition may not be given to him, due to concern that he may become accustomed to the act and continue it improperly later.[3] Accordingly, a child may not be given the wine of a brit milah on Yom Kippur so that the blessing should not appear to have been said in vain, since this practice would be prohibited to him as an adult.[4]
[1] Admur 343:8 “Anything that falls under the category of chinuch (educational training for mitzvot), it is permitted to actively give a child a prohibited item—for example, to feed the Paschal offering to a minor who has reached the age of chinuch, even though he was not formally registered for it. Although the Paschal offering may be eaten only by those registered for it, nevertheless, since one’s intent is to educate him in the mitzvah, it is permitted. However, a mitzvah for which chinuch does not apply—meaning a mitzvah that he will not be able to perform when he grows up, which is the fundamental rationale of chinuch—such as giving him a taste from the cup of wine of a circumcision on Yom Kippur so that the blessing should not appear to have been said in vain: even though this is a mitzvah-related need, nevertheless, since when he grows up it will be forbidden to him, it is also forbidden now, due to concern that he may become accustomed to it and drink from it even when he is older, as will be explained in סימן תרכ״א. Therefore, any rabbinic prohibition (shevut) that is permitted to be performed by a non-Jew for the sake of a mitzvah is forbidden to be performed by means of a minor, due to concern that he may become habituated to it—unless it is only on an occasional, incidental basis, as explained above.”; M”A 343:3; Rabbeinu Yerucham 1:13; Hagahos Ashri Rosh Hashanah 4:7; Tosafus Pesachim 88a; Likkutei Sichos 26:69-74
[2] Admur ibid; See also Admur 186:3; Shut Admur Hazakein 41 in end; Rashi Sukkah 20b; Chagiga 6a; Eruvin 40b
[3] Admur ibid; Mordechai Yuma Remez 727
[4] Admur ibid; 2nd opinion in Admur 190:4; 621:4 and 5-6; Rashi Eruvin 40b
