After a Barmitzvah boy has finished the Torah blessing, his father says aloud “Blessed is He who has released me from the responsibility of this boy”.  This is because until a boy reaches the age of thirteen, (twelve for a girl), the parents are responsible for his/her deeds and this blessing expresses the parents’ gratitude for having lived to see their child reach the age of his/her responsibility.

One of the basic mitzvot that every parent should continue after their child is born is the mitzvah of teaching Torah.  As we say in the Shema,” teach the commandments repeatedly to your children, speaking of them when you are at home or traveling away from home”.

The responsibility of the parents is not finished when they bring a child into this world .

They should help them to “purchase a ticket” for a meaningful life by helping them gain a job and teaching them skills so that they ensure their life in the spiritual world to come. This is done by teaching them the Torah from a very young age.

I can see every Friday when parents (and grandparents) watch their little son or daughter reciting the bracha over the candles and wine on Kabbalat Shabbat in the Kindy, the satisfaction that they have and how much naches is gained.  Also, when a child reaches an age when he can stand and recite verses from the Tefilla, everyone is happy.  When a boy stands on the bima on Shabbat and recites Anim Zemirot (The Hymn of Glory) how proud the parents are.

Of course the pinnacle of a child’s achievements is when he can be the chazzan and stand and recite a parasha or Haftarah in Hebrew. Only through constant teaching from a very young age can this happen.  Teaching Torah is part of our dna.  Education is part of Jewish nature and the secret is by repeating this day after day. From this point of view learning Hebrew on a daily basis is more valuable than once a week.

I would like to take this opportunity to welcome a new teacher, Mrs Laurelle Ben-Meir to the Moriah
College team.  I want to emphasise the importance of education from a very young age and am happy
to report the improvement in the level of learning there. I would have no hesitation in recommending
Moriah College as the best place for Jewish parents to send their children to learn.

I wish Mazal tov to Sam on his Bar mitzvah and to Kessem on her Bat mitzvah.

All the best
Rabbi Chaim Dovrat