This year, in preparation for Shavuot, which starts on the evening of Sunday, June 1, Masorti Olami decided to expand our usual international educational resources into a deeper study experience that will allow for a more meaningful and rooted connection. As it happens, Global Day of Parents falls on the same date as Shavuot this year, making it a wonderful opportunity for us to delve into our sources and explore the stories of the parents we grew up with—Abraham and Sarah, Isaac and Rebecca, Hannah who so deeply longed for a child, and even a lesser-known story that many of us rarely consider: Sisera’s mother, who stood at the window waiting for her son to return from battle.

We’re all familiar with the commandment to honor one’s father and mother—a mitzvah that is often discussed and is indeed important and essential. However, this time we chose to focus more on the parents’ perspective, prompting reflection on the sense of responsibility we hold toward our children, and how we can strive to better support the generation we have chosen to bring into the world.

This study invites us to view parenthood as an emotional, human, and spiritual space—not only for those who are parents themselves, but for anyone seeking to understand the deep intergenerational bonds and the responsibility for others.

Through biblical stories of mothers and fathers and modern Israeli poetry, we will open a conversation about longing, prayer, love, fear, hope, and yearning—emotions evoked by parenthood, but also familiar to all of us, as children. 

In these complex times—amid an ongoing war, with hostages still being held in Hamas captivity and the continued heartbreaking news on new fallen soldiers—parenthood feels even more fragile, tender, and precious. We now understand more than ever that parenting cannot be taken for granted, and we choose to honor it within our learning.

We are sending this study session prepared by Shoshi Bassan, Director of NOAM Olami, a week before Shavuot so that you can prepare accordingly and bring the materials to your group studies, chavruta (study partnerships), or even for personal reflection, if you’re seeking meaningful and enriching content.

The study includes four stories, each accompanied by discussion questions, and some are enriched with Israeli songs or poems, along with personal reflections on the meaning of parenting from rabbis across our regions. To read our rabbis' thoughts, click here.

A huge thank you to Rabbis Gesa Ederberg (Germany), Rafi Kaiserblueth (Australia), Gershom Sizomu (Uganda), and Judy Nowominski (Argentina) for sharing beautiful and personal words on parenting.

We hope this learning experience will be meaningful for you.

Wishing for brighter and better days,
Rabbi Mauricio Balter

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Click below to download the files in different languages: