By Rabbi Joey Haber

Parashat Ki-Tetzeh presents the law regarding a Ben Sorer U’Moreh– “wayward child.” This is a 13-year-old boy who not only disobeys his parents, but goes far beyond that – stealing their money to buy meat and wine to indulge in. The Torah writes that the parents should bring this child to the court, and he should be put to death.

The consensus view among the Rabbis of the Talmud is that there has never been a youngster who met the criteria of a Ben Sorer U’Moreh, and there never will be. This is not a halacha that will ever be practically observed. But the Torah issued this command for the purpose of “so that we learn and apply the lessons that are relevant to our lives, and we will then be worthy of reward.” Let us examine one of the critical lessons about education that we learn from the law of the Ben Sorer U’Moreh.

The Gemara (Sanhedrin 72a) explains that the Torah commanded putting this child to death because it knows what this child would otherwise become. After he steals all his parents’ money, he will be so desperate to continue his endless indulgence in meat and wine that he will go out to the roads and attack people, killing them and taking their money. The Torah determined that it is preferable for this child to be put to death rather than allow him to grow to become a violent criminal. The commentators raise the question of how to reconcile the Gemara’s comment with the famous teaching that a person is judged based on his current condition, irrespective of what he might become in the future. This is inferred from the story of Yishmael, whose sincere prayers were heeded when he was dying of thirst, and whom Hashem thus saved even though his descendants would inflict great harm on the Jewish Nation. How, then, can the Ben Sorer U’Moreh be punished because of what he is going to be? What happened to the rule that all people are judged strictly based on the present?

The Rabbis of the Mussar movement answer that there is an obvious difference between Yishmael and the case of the Ben Sorer U’Moreh. When Yishmael prayed, he was sincere, genuine and pure. His state at that moment had no connection to the cruel, barbaric crimes that his descendants would commit generations later. The Ben Sorer U’Moreh, however, is on a downward spiral, he is clearly heading in the direction of violent crime, and so he needs to be stopped. I taught in high school for many years, and, sadly, I saw so many instances where a child was on the wrong trajectory, when all the signs were there, but by the time the parents noticed, it was too late. So often, when a great kid from a great family learning in a great school grows up and disappoints, the seeds were visible already earlier, much earlier, but nothing was done about it. It’s not that the parents were bad parents. They were loving, caring, hard-working, devoted parents who raised a beautiful, happy family – but they didn’t notice the early warning signs that the child was headed in the wrong direction. Parents are busy – busy with other children, busy with earning a living, busy with their friends and extended family, busy with communal events, and so on. These are all wonderful things. But the highest priority must always be our children. We need to be focused, attentive, attuned, and involved. We cannot leave the child’s education solely to the school.

In two weeks, we will read a pasuk in Parashat Nitzavim in which Moshe tells the people never to think that they need to “rise to the heavens” to observe the Torah. He says that they should never say, Mi Yaaleh Lanu Hashamaima – “Who will bring us up to the heavens?” (Devarim 30:12). Rav Yerucham Olshin, head of the Lakewood Yeshiva, pointed out that the first letters of these words spell the word Milah (circumcision). Moshe here is alluding to us that from the time of an infant’s first mitzvah – the berit – the parents have the responsibility to bring him to the heavens, to help him soar. The parents’ job isn’t to just send their kid to school. They need to believe in their children’s potential for greatness, in their ability to reach the stars, and help them get there.

I mentioned earlier that I’ve seen many instances of problems that arose when it was too late. But I’ve also seen so many opposite examples – where a student who struggled in school ended up reaching the stars, achieving great things. With the parents’ involvement, support and encouragement, all children can succeed.

It is within our power as parents to recognize the signs, to nurture, and to believe. When we do, we give our children the chance to soar higher than we ever dreamed.