“Parenting is a universal phenomenon, so it is hard to say that there is a Jewish way to parent”

Parenting is a universal phenomenon, so it is hard to say that there is a Jewish way to parent. There is no uniquely Jewish way to conceive or to breast-feed or to discipline a child. Nevertheless, how we express the universal desire to create life and pass it on is embedded in the culture and religion of the individual. Judaism places great stress on family—hence the many traditional observances focused on family and home. The Torah and tradition emphasize the importance of transmission of the covenant to the next generation—hence the centrality and glorification of education in Jewish culture. Similarly, tikkun olam, repairing and making this a better world, is a strong theme in Jewish religion. This translates into an emphasis on achievement and the dignity of making a livelihood.

Rabbi Yitzhak Greenberg, “Is There a “Jewish” Way to Parent?”, Moment (January/February 2016), 15.