Chinuch Archives - AskTheRav

Is it permissible (Halachically/Hashkaficlly) to take my kids to Walt Disney in Orlando?

It hard to say there is something Halachicly forbidden about this. However, it definitely is not something I would recommend. The general atmosphere in theme parks are not in…

My daughter is involved in seemingly illegal activities and occasionally asks for my help, such as lending her money. I don’t want to be a part of it.

Question Continued: Am I right not to support her with this, which might lead to a colder relationship from her end? As it is, her Yiddishkeit is fragile, as…

Until what age should we place Shir Hamaalos on a child’s crib, car seat etc.? Is this the same as to how long they should be up on the doors of the house?

For shmira purposes, it’s enough to keep it for three or seven days (or, according to some, four weeks or thirty days). However, there is an additional reason why we…

I know that giving Tzedakah in merit of something specific is allowed – ובחנוני נא בזאת, my question is, is this the ideal way of giving Tzedakah?

I'm asking because I'm working on a children's project, and I'm wondering if it's appropriate to mention to the children that this project was sponsored lizchus/leiloy nishmas... Should children…

According to Halacha is it permissible for one to hit their child? And if not, why was it so common to do so up until just a few years ago?

According to halacha a parent is allowed to hit their child for chinuch purposes (including to teach proper behavior, ethics etc.), because it's being done for the child's good.…

There aren’t many summer jobs available for my young teenage son. Can he work in a supermarket where they have a nice kosher section, but it’s mostly non-kosher food? Are there certain jobs within such a place that are more or less desirable from a Torah perspective?

It is difficult to answer you properly without knowing you or your son's religiosity background. In general, a boy in Yeshiva should learn or work in an Orthodox Jewish…

We are looking to change our school location. One of the locations in question is attached to a church and rent is paid directly to the church itself. Is this a Halachic problem?

If the money goes directly to the church, then it is not permissible, unless we know that the money is going to fund their social work and not for…

How should schools deal with the tuition crisis?

Many schools struggle with finances often forced to raise millions of dollars a year and have difficulty paying their teachers timely and covering their bills. Tuition is discounted so heavily…

I remember there was an Inyan of giving money to a school when a baby is born, but I am not sure. Is it accurate?

Yes. This is our Minhag, at the time of the Bris. ראה היום יום כ״ח אדר שני. שיחת ז׳ אד״ש תשי״א. #981 (2)

Am I allowed to play Nigunim with music, during Sefira, for my students at nap time to make it easier for them to fall asleep?

I’m assuming you are discussing preschool children. This is permissible for two reasons: Since they are below the age of Chinuch. Since it’s to put them to sleep. Still, it’s…

If my children go to bed before Tzeis, how early can I count Sefiras Haomer with them? Is there a difference between preschool age and elementary age?

The Alter Rebbe writes (Siman 489:12) that it is appropriate to wait until Tzeis Hakochevim to count Sefira, however, he mentions that the Minhag of the average person was…

What do I do with my twelve year old girl who does not want to dress Tznius. She is an extremely difficult child in all aspects. Who can I speak to for guidance?

It can be frustrating when our child does not follow the values and ideals that we strongly believe in. This can be compounded when we believe that 'she is…

I am teaching about Pesach in a Chabad House preschool. Some children are somewhat Frum/modern orthodox. Can I allow the children to taste Matzah from last years Shmura Matzah?

One may eat Matzah till Erev Pesach. Chabad custom is not to eat it thirty days before Pesach, but this custom is not practiced universally. Even according to Chabad…

What age is considered “age of Chinuch”, regarding bringing a child to Shul to hear Megillah?

Age of Chinuch in this context is the age when they are capable of listening to the entire Megillah. The custom is to bring even children younger than the…

If the light is on in a child’s room and its a LED light, and it late (so it would be a challenge to find a goy), can a two year old be directed to turn the light off? [The AR says 334 that to extinguish even under Chinuch one should be Moche, but perhaps in a child’s room one can direct a child to the light.]

Where no other choice exists and it’s needed for the welfare of the child, for example, so that he should be able to sleep at night, he may be asked…

At the age of 9 should one encourage a child to avoid eating after Shkia (candle lighting)? What if the child did it three weeks in a row, does that make it problematic? How strongly should Mitzvos like these that entail not eating be encouraged for children?

1) Children should not be encouraged at all to avoid eating before Kiddush, when it causes them affliction. Even if they were careful three times in a row not…

According to Halacha, at what age does a girl need to dress Tznius, i.e. that uncovered parts are considered Erva?

Three years old. Sources: בחי׳ הרשב״ץ ברכות כה , א ד״ה ולענין, דערות בת ג׳ ה״ה כערוה לענין ק״ש. וכ״כ כמה אחרונים (חיי״א כלל ד ס״א). וגם לענין טפח…

Can young children learn a Brachah part at a time? For example, to say the first couple of lines of Asher Yatzar, repeating after the teacher word by word. Once they’ve mastered this, to add on another line and so forth.

Both from a Halachic perspective, as well as a Chinuch perspective, it would be better to teach the full Brachah, with the teacher saying word by word and the child…

If I am teaching a student a song of Davening such as Shmoneh Esrei, can I teach her the song of the Davening using Hashem’s name? Is the girl allowed to practice the Davening song using Hashem’s name?

If you are teaching a full Brachah of Shemone Esrei, you can teach the song using Hashem's name if it is necessary. However, it is preferred to say Hashem’s name…