יום א Date: 19 Elul, 5774 (9/14/14) – Chagigah#6 {Tani}

The Child’s Needs

[6a top] Abaye: A mother brings a child to rejoice in Jerusalem on the festivals once the child is able to go with the parent (and afterwards the child may ride the remaining distance on the father’s shoulders). Rebbi questions if a young child should actually be brought because Channah did not bring her son Shmuel Hanavi until he was weaned. Really, Channah recognized some unusual delicacy in Shmuel and was worried that he may suffer harm from exhaustion of the journey and that is the only reason that she kept him behind.

T’s Lesson: Sometimes, for our children (or others with special needs), we may need to reevalute specific circumstances for their safety and security. It is for this reason we need to not chastise parents/wives who do not make it to Shul (even on Yom Kippur), as they are raising and rearing the children and are most important at the moment. Before we ever judge people in their Mitzvah observance, we should think if they too are dealing with the needs of others that require duties to provide safety and various other necessities that may supersede our seemingly observed requirements for them.