It has long been a Jewish tradition to begin a child’s Chumash education with Parshas Vayikra. The Yalkut Yehudah maintains that this custom is based upon the essence of this parsha. The korbanos, the focus of this parsha, represent sublime purity. Similarly, young children are pure and innocent of all sin. Let those who are pure involve themselves in Torah study through this parsha, which deals with man’s pure activity and duty – sacrifices to Hashem.
The Avnei Azel employs the theme of sacrifice to address a parent’s necessary attitude towards Jewish education. In order to properly inculcate Torah values in Jewish children, one must make sacrifices. One must pay for his child’s education even at the expense of providing for his own basic needs. The obligation to provide for the future of one’s children is a parent’s greatest concern. This obligation can only be fulfilled by making the most comprehensive Torah education available to our children during their early years. This early orientation will guide them along the suitable course to follow throughout life. Introducing children to learning through the parsha dealing with korbanos instructs parents that they must exert every effort and make every appropriate sacrifice in order to imbue a child with Torah values.
We may boldly suggest that sacrifice in contemporary society can be viewed from a somewhat different perspective. Indeed, financial sacrifice is a pressing issue, as parents will often make extreme financial sacrifices in order to provide their children with Torah education. The compromise of the parent’s established lifestyle, so that it coincides with their child’s Torah studies, represents another form of sacrifice. Parents will often demand that their children adopt a lifestyle to which they themselves do not subscribe. This not only sends mixed messages to children, but also eventually causes discord in the home. In order for a child to properly benefit from a Torah education, it is incumbent upon the parents to conform to the requirements of this education. Parents must be willing to sacrifice more than just money in order to ensure their children’s future.
