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Why does the Torah (תורה) require parents to tell children about Yetzias Mitzrayim when they learn it in school anyway? The shiur distinguishes between knowledge acquired through personal learning versus parent-child transmission. When fundamental concepts are transmitted from parent to child at a young age, they become unquestioned identity rather than external information that can later be abandoned.
The shiur begins by examining the mitzvah (מצוה) of 'V'higadta l'vincha' - telling the story of the Exodus to one's children on Pesach (פסח) night. The speaker questions why this parental transmission is necessary when children already learn about Yetzias Mitzrayim through regular Torah (תורה) study. This leads to a broader sociological observation about European Jewish education versus American Jewish education. The speaker describes pre-war Romania, where Jewish children were forced by law to attend public school from 8 AM to 4 PM, including Shabbos (שבת), with only 1.5 hours of Jewish education before and after school. Despite this minimal Jewish education in harsh conditions with often unmotivating teachers, these children maintained strong Jewish commitment throughout their lives. In contrast, American children who attend full-time Jewish schools for 12 years often become religiously weak after just a few years in college.
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V'higadta l'vincha (Exodus 13:8), Sippur Yetzias Mitzrayim
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