Rabbi Azriel's Educational Approach for Children Facing High Holy Days
As adults discuss abstract concepts like awe of God, repentance, and character refinement in preparation for the High Holy Days, children often feel confused by the solemnity of the occasion. A pedagogical insight from the late Rosh Yeshiva Rabbi Baruch Mordechai Azriel offers a concrete educational formula: instead of demanding dramatic revolutions or impossible burdens, the approach focuses on enhancing the good deeds a child already performs by just one small, decisive step.
A ten-year-old child, hearing the pervasive talk of the Day of Judgment, understands it's an important time requiring preparation. However, the abstract explanations from adults, about divine awe, the four parts of repentance, or improving character, leave the child bewildered about practical actions. The article argues that in a generation where tangible concepts are easier to grasp, abstract explanations are insufficient for children.
To illustrate this point, the article recounts an anecdote involving Rabbi Azriel. During a gathering of esteemed scholars, one individual posed a question to Rabbi Azriel: how does someone deeply immersed in Talmudic study, dedicated solely to the yeshiva, prepare for the spiritual intensity of the High Holy Days, including prayers like "Avinu Malkeinu" and the fast of Yom Kippur? The questioner implied such preparations might be solely for the masses.
Rabbi Azriel responded confidently that he needed all these spiritual practices and more, stating he could have done everything he did even better. This highlights the core educational principle: explaining to a child that their role during these crucial days is to slightly improve their current positive actions. Examples include praying word-for-word from the siddur, adding "please and with joy" when responding to a mother's request, proactively offering help with Shabbat preparations, answering "Amen" aloud after a friend's blessing, or holding food in the right hand before reciting a blessing.
The message is that a small, tangible improvement constitutes a significant step, effectively influencing one's judgment on the Day of Judgment. The article emphasizes that this subtle yet decisive shift is key to preparing children for these significant days.
