Although in two different sections of the Jewish Link (Health and Chinuch), I found two articles which seemed to complement each other and resonated with me greatly. In “Let the Tea Steep for 5 Minutes,” (May 2, 2019) Beth Taubes suggested so beautifully that some of the most important things in life cannot be accomplished in the quick-paced fashion to which we have become accustomed. For example, she said, relationships require a tremendous amount of time but the positives which can come out of the time investment are unquantifiable!

Later in the paper, Rabbi Wallace Green discussed how important “Table Talk” (May 2, 2019) is, especially on Shabbat, regarding helping our children understand the world around us in a wholesome and healthy way. One of the ways suggested is by discussing Torah at the table which can lead to wonderful thoughts and ideas and excellent takeaways.

After reading both articles I realized the tremendous connection between them— developing relationships, especially between parent and child, through the learning of Torah. I can think of nothing more lasting than a relationship whose foundation is based on Hashem’s Torah.

For example, while I had these two articles in my head, I attended seuda shelishit in my shul which was being sponsored by a son on the occasion of his father’s yahrzeit. He spoke lovingly about his father and the memories he had of him. When talking to him afterwards, he told me that each day he learns daf yomi, he thinks of his father since it was he who got him started on it many years ago.

I also once attended a bar mitzvah at which the boy made a siyum on a seder of Mishna. Although this may not be so uncommon, it was the father’s comments afterwards which caught my attention. In his remarks after the siyum, the father recounted with pride how he and his son learned a little bit each day, in order to make the siyum a reality.

I was also told recently by a grandfather whose grandson calls him each Friday to wish him a good Shabbos, that he always makes sure to share a Torah thought before the end of the call. He said that at first it was really one-sided but it now has developed that the grandson sometimes shares a thought as well (because he knows how meaningful it is to his zeyde).

I suppose that what I am saying is thank you to Rebbetzin Taubes and Rabbi Green for giving me chizuk to develop relationships with my children and parents through many means, especially Torah.