- Instilling Jewish Pride and Identity[1]
A vital component of Jewish education is cultivating within a child a strong sense of Jewish pride and identity from the earliest age. Throughout history, Jews have lived as a minority among the nations, and it is only natural for members of a minority group to sometimes develop feelings of inferiority in relation to the surrounding majority culture. For this reason, it is essential that Jewish children be taught to take pride in the heritage, traditions, and values passed down from their parents and ancestors. They should grow up with a deep appreciation for the privilege of being part of the Jewish people, so that rather than concealing their Judaism, they will embrace it with confidence and without embarrassment, regardless of outside pressures or ridicule. Achieving this requires more than teaching facts about Judaism; it demands instilling the proper emotional attachment to authentic Torah values and helping children recognize the superiority of spiritual achievement over material success. When a child develops a strong Jewish identity and an appreciation for the unique mission of the Jewish people, he gains the inner strength to remain committed to Torah and mitzvos and to live proudly as a Jew in any environment.
[1] Moreh Lidur Navuch p. 177; Shaareiy Chinuch p. 85