by Rabbi Avi Billet
The final chapter of the book of Vayikra delves into the topic of Endowments and Valuations, essentially answering the question of what value humans, animals and properties have if a person makes a pledge to the Mishkan based on the value of another human being, etc. It is not to suggest that a direct monetary value can be assigned to any person, because human beings are priceless, but that a donation based on such a declaration carries with it a measurable value.
“If a man consecrates a field from his hereditary property to God, its endowment value shall be calculated according to the amounts of seed [required to sow it], 50 silver shekels for each chomer of barley seed.” Chomer is a measurement of seed that might cover or plant close to 4 acres of farmland. (See the Living Torah)
Rabbi Akiva Sofer asks a very simple question, and gives a very Hassidic-style answer. “Do you want to know the value of the person who sanctifies his property to God? Do you want to know if he is complete in his heart, in his fear and reverence of God? Then ‘his value should be calculated based on his seed.’”
Rabbi Sofer takes the literal meaning of the text and takes a very simple alternative twist, utilizing another important translation of the word “Zera” -
instead of translating it to mean seed, he suggests "Zera" refers to a person's children.
Pay attention to his children! If he teaches them right, and they are raised to be mentchen, then his own value is affirmed and ascertained. But if he is a failure …
In our time, Rabbi Sofer’s criteria seems a little unfair. We all know people who are good people, who raised their children properly, who gave them the best education, who provided them with their every need and desire, who did everything they needed to create a solid foundation and Jewish identity, yet whose children have grown to a different path in life, whether on account of substance abuse, or purely and simply “going off the derekh.”
And so, while I like Rabbi Sofer’s idea in a communal ideal sense – if children turn out OK it’s to the parents’ credit, I don’t think it’s fair to automatically declare the reverse to be true, that if children turn out poorly it is "automatically" their parents’ fault.
For better or for worse, we live in the 21st century. And the 21st century is loaded with all kinds of amazing amenities. But it also confronts us with new and extensive challenges. Perhaps our challenge Is stronger than it was even 50 years ago.
But the tackling of the challenges remains the same. How do we go about keeping our children engaged and interested as we develop them to the point we are confident they will follow our choices, and live similar lives to the ones we brought them into and outlined for them?
We must put very serious thought into the task of engaging our children. And, more than preaching, of modeling what it means to be a seriously committed Jew - who not only walks the walk and talks the talks but believes the beliefs and finds God where He needs to be found.
We must talk with our children, speak with them, look at them, read with them, learn Torah with them, show them what is important to us, and try our best to always have these conversations so they will know.
Of course there are no guarantees. But hopefully we may be blessed that our children not only follow, but improve upon our ways, so that the question of our value will be followed by the obvious statement that our children are not only to our credit, but a credit to everyone around them..
If our “zera” fills out that dream, our community will only be enhanced. May we be so lucky!
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