There are many ways that we can encourage children of all ages to understand the importance of doing things for others and performing commandments (mitzvot) related to tzedakah and gemilut chasidim (charity and acts of kindness).
Here are some tips for parents interested in working with their children to learn more about giving.
• Be a good role model. A core Jewish value is known as dugmah ishit, personal example. It encourages all of us, and especially parents, to be a good role model and to lead by example.
Our children learn important values related to giving time and money from their parents and mentors. So it is important to “walk the walk.”
Make sure that your child sees that you are a volunteer. Explain where and why you donate dollars to specific places.
Not only will it serve you and your community, but your child will learn core Jewish values from you that will stick with them throughout their lifetime.
• Ask your children to explain their own wishes and dreams for the world. It is extremely important for families to discuss the current state of the world, both close to home and further away.
Our Jewish texts explain that it is our responsibility to work towards making a better world for future generations, but in order to encourage those generations to be active, they must realize how crucial it is to try to finish the work the generations before them began.
Explain why you are involved in the organizations and activities that you work with and ask your children where their interests and concerns lie. Help them find ways to work on those areas of concern and invite them to jump in and do things to make their wishes and dreams for the world come true.
• Show children how their actions make a difference. There are countless ways to give to others and every bit we do helps. Our Jewish tradition tells us that we should not put a stumbling block before the blind and that we should always help those less fortunate than us (the widow, the orphan).
Our children can do many things (like pick up litter), can give things (like donating old clothes to people who need them), and can share things (like simply sharing their time by visiting someone who is sick). When your children perform acts of loving kindness, discuss the effect their actions had on the people they wanted to help.
By helping children see the many ways they have the power to give, you are giving them a priceless gift of seeing the value of their contributions.
• Participate in group and family activities. Making the decision to perform mitzvot that help others as a family and/or with the greater community sends a strong message about the ways in which you prioritize the time you spend as a family.
Call a family meeting and ask your children what activities and events they would like to do together to help others. Ideas might include participating in a walk-a-thon for your family’s favorite cause, baking cookies with your children and bringing them to a local hospital or senior citizen center, creating art projects to sell and donating the money to a charity that you and your children have found together.
These are only a few possibilities, but investing the time and energy to help others as a family unit is not only a great gift to give to others, but it is a gift to the foundation of your family as well.
• Find resources to get your children excited about charity and learning about Jewish values. Jewish tradition tells us that taking the time to teach Jewish lessons to our children is a parent’s obligation.
Some wonderful books and websites exist that can help you teach about charity and giving to your children. The best ones show children and parents alike how to work together to help others and find joy in that work.
“The Giving Book” is for children 6-11 years old and helps them create their vision for giving back to the world. Children and their parents can use “The Giving BookT together to help stimulate family and individual excitement.
There are some ideas and lessons available for parents to use with their children about Jewish values surrounding giving and how to use “The Giving Book” located in the free Jewish Guide at Watering Can Press’s website www.wateringcanpress.com.
Rachel Greenspan is director of Gan Ami Beginnings, Preschool & Kindergarten of the Harry & Rose Samson Family Jewish Community Center.
Loading ...