Parenting 101: Teaching to Read Between the Lines

On the very first word of the Torah, “Breishis”, the Talmud comments: “Do not just read it ‘Breishis — In the beginning’, but ‘Bara Shis — He created a foundation.’” The very first step in the service of G-d is to learn to see beneath the world’s surface, to its “foundation” — G-d, the Creator.

This is also the basis of Jewish education: A child must be taught to see through the exterior of physical things, to discern what is fitting for him as a Jew, and what is not.

The child’s family will learn from his example to see beneath the surface, as well. They will realize that the laws of nature themselves were created by G-d, and that nature’s continued existence depends upon man’s observance of G-d’s commands.

When the Jews accepted the Torah G-d stabilized the world. When one sees “instability” in the world, the first response must be to individually and collectively reinforce the foundation upon which the earth was formed: faith in G-d, the Creator.