Mishne Torah, The Laws of Torah Study, chapter 1
1:2. Just as one is obligated to teach one’s son, so is one obligated to teach one’s grandson, for it is written, “…but teach them to your sons, and your son’s sons”. This doesn’t just apply to teaching one’s sons and grandsons, but every learned Jew is obligated to teach all his students, for it is written, “And you shall teach them to your children”. This tells us to teach our children, and students are [also] called children, as it is written, “And the sons of the prophet went out”. If so, why is there a commandment to teach one’s sons and grandsons? This tells us to give our sons precedence over our grandsons, and our grandsons precedence over someone else’s son. One is obligated to hire a teacher for one’s son, but one may only teach someone else’s son for free.

1:3. Someone whose father did not teach him is obligated to teach himself as much as he can, for it is written, “…that you may learn them, keep and do them”. This is similarly stated in any case where the learning is before the action, for learning causes action but action does not cause learning.

1:5. One should learn Torah before one gets married, for if one gets married first one won’t be able to concentrate on one’s learning. If, however, one’s inclinations overcame one so that one could not learn, one should get married first.

1:6. From when is a father obligated to teach his son Torah? When the child begins to speak he should teach him the verse, “Moses commanded us a Torah, the inheritance of the congregation of Jacob”, and also the first verse of the Shema. Then he should teach him bit by bit, verse by verse, until he is six or seven years old and according to his capacity, and then one should let a teacher take over.

1:8. Every Jew is obligated to learn Torah, whether he is rich or poor, physically complete or disabled, or whether he is young or an old person of failing strength. Even if he is a poor person supported by charity and begging, and even if he had a wife and children, he still has to set aside time during the day and by night for Torah study, for it is written, “…but you shall engage in it by day and night”.

1:10 One is obligated to learn the Torah till the day of one’s death, for it is written, “In case they leave your mind through your life”. As long as one learns Torah, one is not forgotten.

Shabbat Shalom!

Tot Shabbat (Kindergarten and Under)
Join us for our popular Tot Shabbat with “Miss Patty” Nogg who leads us in a warm and joyous family service for the kindergarten and under crowd.

Say Shalom to Shabbat (6-10 Year Olds)
This fun, creative, musical interactive service has children in first grade and older enjoying their own fun Shabbat program led by Morah Deborah Kronick with Jeff Taxman on the guitar. 

Cost for dinner for either event is $5 per person for Beth El members, $7.50 for non-members. Children 6 and under are free. RSVP by Wednesday, February 29, or the cost to attend doubles. Don’t forget to bring items for donation to the JFS Food Pantry. RSVP today!

Join us in this monthly class for an interactive discussion of God, worship and prayer, Torah and mitzvot, sin and repentance, reward and punishment, among other topics. Every class is a different topic so it does not matter if you did not attend the prior class. There is no charge to attend. Click here to register.

Join our Young Adult Committee’s playgroup for little ones ages five and younger, and their parents. This week we’ll enjoy playtime at the JCC gym. For more information contact Caryn.

Join us for a new series of cooking classes led by the Jewish Federation’s Schlicha, Na’ama Keren. Tonight’s class will feature the wonderful Israeli foods you can make out of Eggplant. Additional cooking classes will be held on  March  26 and April 30. Cost to attend is $10 per class. These classes are sponsored by the Jewish Federation of Omaha’s Center for Jewish Education. Space is limited to only 20 people per session, so sign up today.

Teacher Andy Greenberg will lead the group on a virtual scavenger hunt through the ages to find out what the world would have been like without Jews! Click here to register. 

Join teacher Susi Frydman-Levin for this monthly adult education class examining how movies lead us through different dimensions of diversity: age, gender, ethnic heritage, race, mental and physical characteristics and abilities, sexual orientation and religion, topics that will challenge our beliefs and points of view. Every class is a different topic, so it does not matter if you did not attend the prior class. 

Ever wanted to roll up your sleeves and play around with dough? Now is your chance! Sisterhood is baking hamantashen for the family Megillah reading and the Purim carnival. You don’t have to be a member of Sisterhood or even know how to make hamantashen to help. Everyone who helps bake gets to take home 1/2 dozen fresh baked hamantashen, free! Questions, contact Marcie Spivack.

Come one, come all to a family Shabbat Service led by Rabbi Steven Abraham, Eadie Tsabari & Judy Rubin. Interactive, lively, engaging, this is a service for all ages. Come with your family, come alone, just come!