Pinchas Eliyahu’s first visit to the Cheder
Last week, Rabbi Binyomin Edery took Chaya Mushka and Pinchas to N.Y, for Pinchas Eliyahu’s first Cheder visit. It was very special and moving occasion.
The children were pleasantly surprised to see so many Jewish people and so much kosher food.
Hachnasa Lacheder, is the first day that the father brings his son to study Torah at the Cheder- Jewish school.
It is a very holy and special tradition that was done more that two thousand years ago, and brought down in holy books by many Tzadikim, holy people.
On this day, the father wraps the child in a Talit, prayer shawl, and brings him to the Melamed- school teacher. The teacher puts the boy on his lap, puts honey on the Aleph Bet, and goes through all the Hebrew letters and vowels. Then the boy licks the honey, to tastel how the learning of Torah is so sweet.
Honey cake is then brought and an egg, with verses from the Torah inscribed on them, and the child eats them. Candies are thrown, and refreshments are given out to the children of the class. Coins are distributed and the children put them in a Charity box.
The whole day, the parents are careful that the child should not look at unholy things. When he leaves the Cheder, he is also covered with the prayer shawl.
This practice has a very strong impact on the young child. The sages write that one who follows this tradition causes an openness of heart for the learning of the Torah in the child.
