Parenting Through a Torah Lens: Help Them Shine

While visiting his kids' school, Rabbi Meister took a moment to reflect on parenting—and how Torah offers a unique approach to raising children.

In today’s world, there’s a tendency to view discipline as something harsh or forceful. Many parents feel pressure to “break” bad habits or “correct” personality traits they see as flaws. But Rabbi Meister calls this an anti-Torah perspective.

The Torah doesn’t teach us to break children. It teaches us to understand them.

Each child has a unique personality, temperament, and way of seeing the world. Rather than forcing them to change who they are, the Torah’s wisdom urges us to work with them. The goal isn’t control—it’s growth. It’s about helping a child become their best self, not a version of someone else’s expectations.

This doesn’t mean ignoring behavior that needs guidance. It means guiding from a place of respect and insight—by first seeing the child clearly.

In that short moment at school, Rabbi Meister reminds us of something profound: parenting isn’t about overpowering. It’s about partnering. And when we approach our kids with that kind of Torah-centered love and patience, we give them the tools not just to behave, but to flourish.