Living Torah Archives

Sarah, the first Jewish mother, is a shining example of the great power that every woman has over her family and our entire nation. It was Sarah who insisted that Isaac, not Ishmael, continue Abraham’s progeny. It was she who raised Isaac in his formative years, instilling within him the fortitude to stand up to all tests, and to become the second Patriarch of the Jewish People.

Rabbi Shmarya Katzen was a beloved teacher for close to five decades. After becoming observant in the 1960s and spending several years in yeshivas, he began to think about his life ahead. The Rebbe encouraged him to take an aptitude test to discover how to best use his unique talents, and it was this that led him to his long career as an educator, with the Rebbe’s guidance and blessings.

When it comes to Jewish education, some parents ask, “What’s the rush? When our child learns right from wrong, and matures a little, then we’ll teach him about his heritage. It can wait until he is at least able to understand that he is part of the chosen people, and different to others.”

When the Mitteler Rebbe was a young child about to begin his Jewish education, the Alter Rebbe, his father gave specific instruction to his teacher on how to proceed with the very first lesson.

Sarah, the first Jewish mother, is a shining example of the great power that every woman has over her family and our entire nation. It was Sarah who insisted that Isaac, not Ishmael, continue Abraham’s progeny. It was she who raised Isaac in his formative years, instilling within him the fortitude to stand up to all tests, and to become the second Patriarch of the Jewish People.