Hanukkah is a time of giving and teaching tzedakah, but how can we help our younger children understand the true meaning?
Like many parents, Kveller writer Cara Paiuk has struggled with how to translate the concept of tzedakah into something tangible children can fully understand. "I want my children to understand that the abundance they enjoy is unfortunately not experienced by many others, so we should help whenever and however we can," Paiuk said.
Paiuk has introduced to her family's Shabbat observance a tzedakah box, where they put loose change for later donation. Although the effort is there, her son does not quite understand the underlying meaning of the box.
"We also sorted through his toys a few weeks ago and removed several large bags worth to donate," Paiuk said. "He thought we were just getting rid of them because he doesn't play with them anymore."
The "aha" moment came for Paiuk after seeing a Facebook post about an event to help collect school items for those who cannot afford them. This was one simple way Paiuk could show her son how his efforts could help others directly.
"I hope the intentionality of this activity and crystallizing the teachable moment will begin to instill the sense in him that tzedakah will gain him something far more valuable that what he is giving up." Paiuk concluded.
Read the full Kveller article here.
As Hanukkah approaches, we want to know how you teach tzedakah to your children. Are you reading them a Hanukkah story of giving like Hanukkah Cookies with Sprinkles? Volunteering at soup kitchen to feed the homeless? Tell us!
