Teach Your Children

Deuteronomy 32:9-12

In the language and metaphors of the poem Moses recites the key message of teaching your children Torah becomes a focus.

From Chofetz Chaim to Ezekiel to Amos and Jeremiah and, of course, Rashi we reviewed the quotes of the great Jewish philosophers on the topic:

Our children’s inheritance is the Torah. They have the right to know their legacy.

The people Israel were found as ‘grapes in the wilderness’

We are the rejected children of the Canaanites, rescued by God.


And the view that the Exodus never happened was discussed again because the Exodus in not mentioned in this poem.
Why? Because he is speaking to the next generation? Because the Torah was given after the Exodus? Because the meeting at Sinai is more important?

The concept developed further: “ Torah was given to bring order out of chaos “ God surrounded us in the harsh and difficult wilderness. Guarded as the ‘pupil of the eye’. ( and of course there was an interesting side tangent on what this term means - ‘the little man in the eye’ - Arabic term )


We moved forward to discuss the imagery of the EAGLE in Verse 11: While the Eagle is a strong, powerful and a fierce predator, it is gentle and caring of its young. So this is an impressive image of God “I bore you on Eagle’s wings” at Sinai.

As a parent’s desire to ‘fly’ their children through difficulties, but the need for the child to experience those difficult times to learn.

And Ron Kay’s philosophical and appropriate summary: “We give our children Roots and Wings”!



Related Film NOTE: Joshua Then and Now is a 1985 film with Allan Arkin: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joshua_Then_and_Now_(film)
Excerpt on You Tube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qTc6_2Ld6ew