Starting to learn – Vayikra
Once upon a time, the Jewish child would begin his Hebrew education with the Book of Vayikra, the section of the Chumash that we open this Shabbat. The sages said, “Let the pure ones (the little children) begin with things that are pure (the subjects of Sefer Vayikra)”.
The principle of this method is commendable, and it was never as important as it is today, when in some countries, the schools have become centres of vulgarity, indecency and immorality – not to speak of the fact that in there are places where prejudice against other people is imparted to the little children in elementary schools.
Albert Einstein said in his autobiography, “Education is that which remains when one has forgotten all that he learned at school”.
If a child begins his life with an immersion in love and respect it does not really matter that he later forgets the jussive grammar rules and the phenomenon of algebra.
