Weekly Dvar Torah: The 12 Pesukim, A Prescription for Happy and Healthy Living – Part Two
The Rebbe introduced the 12 Pesukim in two stages.
The first six Pesukim were unveiled on the eve of Rosh Chodesh Iyar, 5736, when the Rebbe launched a new Mivtza — Mivtza Chinuch — calling for an increase in every effort connected with Jewish education. In honor of this tremendous campaign, the Rebbe held not one, but three Farbrengens: Thursday night, Shabbos, and Sunday. At that time, the Rebbe declared both the new Mivtza and the new reality: Shnas HaChinuch, the Year of Chinuch.
When the Rebbe spoke about Chinuch, he emphasized something revolutionary: the responsibility to strengthen education belongs to every single Jew, including even the youngest of children. The Rebbe described with warmth and clarity how children themselves can participate in this campaign — and not just participate, but influence others. Since children naturally like to be leaders among their peers, the Rebbe urged that this very quality be used for holiness: let children inspire their friends to strengthen their Torah and Mitzvos.
How? Through verses. Torah Shebiksav, Torah Shebaal Peh, and Chassidus — especially Tanya — carefully chosen verses that a child can understand and memorize. These verses, the Rebbe explained, lift a child into a higher, more refined spiritual world.
And then the Rebbe added something powerful: modern science had just “discovered” something Torah has always known — that even tiny infants are shaped by what they see and hear. Impressions made in early childhood remain for life. Shlomo HaMelech already said it long ago: “Chanoch l’naar al pi darko… — Educate the child according to his way; even when he grows old he will not depart from it.” Our grandmothers instinctively did this when they placed a Shir HaMaalos in the baby’s crib, or sang lullabies, whispering, “Torah iz di beste sechoirah — Torah is the best merchandise.” These seeds planted in the cradle never leave the child.
Therefore, the Rebbe said, we must choose verses that children can understand and carry in their hearts.
We begin with Torah Shebiksav.
The very first Pasuk must be Torah Tziva, because the moment a child begins to speak, his father must teach him:
תּוֹרָה צִוָּה לָנוּ מֹשֶׁה מוֹרָשָׁה קְהִלַּת יַעֲקֹב
“Moses gave us the Torah — the inheritance of the congregation of Jacob.”
Even the smallest child can understand this. Just as he treasures his toys, he can learn to treasure Torah — ¬¬¬his inheritance — something infinitely more precious.
The next verse is the bedrock of Jewish faith:
שְׁמַע יִשְׂרָאֵל…
“Hashem is our G-d, Hashem is One.”
Every child should say it morning and night. Even on the simplest level, a child can grasp that “Echad” — Alef, Ches, Daled — means the One G-d who created and fills the seven heavens and the earth (eight), and the four corners of the world. Within a child’s simple understanding lies the deepest secrets of faith.
Then we move to Torah Shebaal Peh. Since the Rebbe launched this campaign right after Pesach, the Rebbe taught the verse of remembering the Exodus:
לְמַעַן תִּזְכֹּר אֶת יוֹם צֵאתְךָ…
“In order that you may remember the day you left Egypt, all the days of your life.”
Children had just lived through the Seder night — asking the Four Questions, hearing how Hashem took us out of slavery. A child understands clearly that had Hashem not taken us out, he would still be a slave to Pharaoh. This awakens love and gratitude to Hashem.
(Later, the Rebbe replaced this verse with “בְּכָל דּוֹר וָדוֹר חַיָּב אָדָם לִרְאוֹת אֶת עַצְמוֹ…” — that in every generation one must see himself as personally leaving Egypt.)
Next comes the famous teaching from the opening of Sanhedrin:
כָּל יִשְׂרָאֵל יֵשׁ לָהֶם חֵלֶק לָעוֹלָם הַבָּא…
“All Israel has a share in the World to Come.”
The child learns that he is Hashem’s pride — netz’er mata’ai, ma’asei yadai le’hispa’er — Hashem Himself delights in this little child forever.
Then we enter Tanya.
On the very title page, the Alter Rebbe bases the entire Tanya on the verse:
כִּי קָרוֹב אֵלֶיךָ הַדָּבָר מְאֹד…
“For it is exceedingly near to you — in your mouth and in your heart — to do it.”
Every child can absorb this: Torah and Yiddishkeit are not distant or unreachable. They are as close as the toys he holds in his hands.
And finally, from Tanya chapter 41:
וְהִנֵּה ה׳ נִצָּב עָלָיו…
“Behold, Hashem stands over him… the whole world is filled with His glory… and He looks into his heart to see if he serves Him as is fitting.”
What can bring a child closer to Hashem than knowing that Hashem stands right near him, lovingly watching and encouraging him?
All these verses — when taught with warmth on a child’s level — awaken the child’s inner Neshamah. They fulfill the Zohar’s prophecy that in the last generations, the knowledge of Hashem will spread everywhere, even in children’s minds. A child becomes excited — and with childish enthusiasm, he shares this excitement with his friends, influencing them to do what Hashem wants with joy.
And there is another benefit. Tehillim tells us:
מִפִּי עוֹלְלִים וְיוֹנְקִים יִסַּדְתָּ עֹז…
“From the mouths of infants and sucklings You established strength to silence the enemy.”
“Oz” means Torah. When Jewish children speak Torah, they create a spiritual force that protects the Jewish people and nullifies negative forces.
In summary:
The Rebbe introduced the first six Pesukim not only to excite and uplift Jewish children, and not only to empower them to influence their peers, but to protect the Jewish people as a whole. These Pesukim were chosen because they contain the most fundamental pillars of Yiddishkeit — the verses that instill in a child a fiery love for Torah and for Hashem, that anchor him in the very basics of Judaism, and awaken within him pride in being a Jew. By learning and memorizing these verses, a child’s foundations are strengthened, his identity is fortified, and his heart becomes alive with enthusiasm for Torah and Mitzvos. These verses educate, inspire, elevate, and defend — forming a spiritual fortress around every Jewish child, and through them, around all of Klal Yisrael.
And indeed, Chassidim were aflame with excitement. In honor of Shnas HaChinuch, they decided to organize a Lag BaOmer parade — even though it wasn’t Sunday, the usual day — and the parade took place on Tuesday, Lag BaOmer. As always, the Rebbe came out to address the children.
And then, during the Rebbe’s address to the children at the parade on Lag BaOmer, came another bombshell in the Rebbe’s talk.
To be continued in Part Three…
Have a Shabbos Anchored in the Basics of Fundamental Yiddishkeit,
Gut Shabbos
Rabbi Yosef Katzman
