Early Imprints

The Mitzva of הפרשת חלה was given after the episode of the spies. The commandment to give the first of the dough was connected with the entry of the Jewish people to Eretz Yisrael. It was a kind of reassurance that despite their grievous sin, they would still inherit the land.

It is interesting to note that the Torah chose to use the words, ראשית עריסותיכם, which has a double meaning. One explanation of עריסה, is “dough,” but עריסה can also mean, “cradle.”

Rabbi Twerski explains this homiletically to mean something totally different. He wrote that there was a hint to educating our children from the cradle.

This is particularly true today when there are so many outside influences that take our children away from Judaism.

The earliest imprints a child witnesses, could have long term effects. Even from the cradle, a baby should see images of holy religious sites, or pictures of saintly Jews.

It may be more important that such pictures are on the wall in a child’s bedroom, instead of, or in addition to, the usual Disney characters that surround a child.

Perhaps holy rabbis or biblical scenes should be given greater priority than Mickey or Minnie. This really is a serious matter as such images leave a lasting impression.

This is also why some parents will even bring infants or small children to Shule, so that there are these early imprints. And it goes without saying, the message parents will give their children as to what their priorities ought to be.

The ראשית עריסותיכם is meant to teach that we be aware of how impressionable young children are, and it is our duty to make sure that these impressions be of holiness and purity.