There is a famous Midrash relating to the giving of the Torah. The Jewish people were told by Hashem that He would not bequeath the Torah to them unless they would provide worthy guarantors who would ensure the continuity of Torah for future generations. Hashem did not accept the Avos and Imahos, the Patriarchs and Matriarchs as guarantors, nor did He accept the prophets. Only when the Jewish people proposed, הרי בנינו עורבים אותנו – “Our children will guarantee the observance of the Torah”, did Hashem respond, הן ודאי ערבים טובים, על ידיהם אתננה לכם – “They are truly worthy guarantors, because of them I will give the Torah.”
One cannot study without questioning. Challenging what we learn and asking questions is basic to our understanding and acceptance of what we are taught. Any serious student needs to ask, “Why?”, “What is the basis for your statement?”, “Why is this done in this particular way?” Children and adults, however, have very different intentions when expressing their questions. An adult may doubt the very principle/law/concept being taught, and if the answer provided is not to his liking, he may reject the teaching altogether. Conversely, children have an innate curiosity, and a natural desire to understand the world they live in. They don’t doubt the truth of what they are being taught, they are not skeptical of the information imparted, they only want to understand it more.
We are commanded to study Torah, and this involves closely examining every word of both the Written and Oral Law. Hashem doesn't want us to blindly accept His teachings, he wants us to use our intellectual skills to analyse, probe, and question. However, we must never lose sight of the fact that our minds are inherently limited, whereas Hashem's wisdom is infinite. We are obligated to question, but at the same time to unquestioningly accept each word of Torah to be the absolute truth. Only this method of study ensures the eternal survival of the Torah, guaranteeing that its teachings won't be forsaken because of doubts which inevitably will arise (after all, that is the nature of intellect – it can always be questioned and doubted).
This is precisely why Hashem accepted only the children as the appropriate guarantors for the continuity and permanence of Torah. It is to teach each one of us, the adults, that we too must dedicate ourselves to the Torah in a “childish” manner, on the one hand engaging in questioning, examining and analysing, while at the same time displaying an unflinching acceptance of Hashem’s word. This quality is the most appealing to Hashem and is the most effective guarantee for the future of the Torah.
Bnos Chana is a school where the Mechanchos, the educators, are dedicated to inspiring every individual child to connect with and find meaning in what they are taught. Our educational model,חינוך על טהרת הקדש , guides everything we do, with the goal of producing children that grow into adults who have true Yiras Shomayim, Ahavas Yisroel and Simcha shel mitzva. We aim to provide our students with an experience of Yiddishkeit and Chassidishkeit that is enjoyable, relevant, and meaningful. When teaching children, whether it is the Alef Beis, or any other topic, we want them to know what is the neshama, the soul, of everything they learn. We instill in them right from the start Emuna and Yiras Shomayim, so that they grow into passionate and committed Yidden and Chassidim for the rest of their lives. We want every child to answer the question, What do you love? by saying, “I love Hashem, I love the Torah and I love every single fellow Jew.”
Mrs Chaya Winner