Teach Your Children
Let’s talk about chinuch. If you knew of a parent who physically abused their child, you would report them to the authorities immediately. But what about emotional abuse?
Consider a parent who ridicules and constantly criticizes a child, or one who never provides chizuk (encouragement), a good word, or a compliment. Emotional abuse is, in many ways, just as damaging—if not worse—than physical abuse. It is the slow "murder" of a child's soul. The same gravity applies to our relationships with our spouses; constant criticism without the oxygen of a compliment is a destructive force.
The Torah repeats the warning: “It should not be extinguished.” The sacred work of the Kohanim was to ensure that this fire burned at all times. Logically, there are only two ways to put out a fire:
The fire on the Mizbe'ach is symbolic of the Pintele Yid—the indestructible spark of holiness within every Jew. Just as with the Altar, there are two ways to damage that internal spark:
We have a positive mitzvah to "feed the fire" in every Jew we encounter. We do this by providing chizuk through charity, teaching, and kind words. Every interaction is an opportunity to add wood to someone else's Altar.
Don’t let the fire go out—not yours, and not anyone else’s.
Unexpectedly, people have been writing in about locusts! Rabbi Heshy Chaitoff shared a fascinating link that supports the tradition of eating locusts.
Take a look: Watch the Video Here