In this week’s parsha, the Torah teaches us about keeping our promises and vows. The Torah says: לא יחל דברו, ככל היוצא מפיו יעשה (30:3). This means that we can’t let our words become profane (not holy), rather make sure that you do/keep everything you promise. This teaches us that our words really are holy and have a power to them.
Discuss why “keeping your word” is so important? (Related to the value of truth!)
What other kinds of speech can be positive or negative/harmful? Discuss and give examples about how we use our mouths to be good people and good Jews (what mitzvot do we have that relate to speech?) or unfortunately can use our words to hurt people and distance ourselves from G-d.
Bracha Krohn, mom to an 11-year old boy, 7-year old girl and 5-year old boy, made aliyah to Efrat, Israel from Cleveland, Ohio in Summer 2008, with her husband Adi. She is Director of Guidance and faculty member at Midreshet Moriah in Jerusalem, a one year post-high school program for young women, and she teaches weekly for the Women's Beit Midrash of Gush Etzion. Her family spends the summers in camp where she teaches daily classes for camp staff. "Table Talk" is based on the ideas she and her husband, also a Torah educator, discuss with their children around their weekly Shabbat table.
