Spiritual Motherhood

The Talmud teaches: “Let that man be remembered for good, and Rabbi Yehoshua ben Gamla is his name. Until he came, only children with fathers had the opportunity to study Torah, whereas orphans did not. But Rabbi Yehoshua established Torah schools in every province and city for all children, even as young as six and seven.”

Although it is the father who generally teaches the child Torah, it’s the mother who fosters the child’s actual spiritual development throughout the day. Even in the case of Rabbi Yehoshua ben Gamla, his national yeshiva system was only successful because the mothers made sure to bring their children there.

Education is not always articulated. Every aspect of the home – its character, its food and drink, its furnishings, the pictures hanging on the walls – all play a powerful role in the education of the child, no less than the study of Torah itself. This responsibility is entrusted by G-d to the Jewish woman. In this regard, she is primary – Torah considers her the “mainstay of the home,” and her husband, her “helpmate.”