“and Yitzchak was forty years old when he took Rivka as a wife, the daughter of Besuel the Arammian of Paddan-aram, the sister of Lavan the Arammian.” (Bereishis 25:20)

In last week’s parsha, Chazal taught us that when Yitzchak brought Rivka into his home as his wife, the same miracles that took place in Sarah’s tent returned: the blessing in the dough, the cloud of holiness over the tent, and Shabbos candles remaining lit all week. However, in this week’s parsha, the Torah reminds us again that Rivka was the sister of Lavan and the daughter of Besuel, and Rashi emphasizes that despite being raised in a house of wicked people, she remained righteous. But why repeat this? We already knew this from last week’s parsha!

I would like to share with you a thought from the Beis Haleivi (Yosef Dov Soloveitchik 1820-1892). The Gemora in Chagiga recounts that at Acher’s (Elisha ben Avuyah) bris, the gedolei Yisrael were in attendance. As they delved into Torah, a heavenly fire surrounded them. When it was explained to Acher’s father that this was a spiritual fire, he declared that he wanted his son to also be a Talmid chacham like these men. Chazal tell us that because his desire for his son to become great was for the wrong reason, it caused Acher to become an apikorus. Chazal also teach that one should begin a Mitzva even for the wrong reasons, as it will lead to doing it for the right reasons. The Beis Haleivi asks that if so, in Acher’s case, despite the father’s wrong intentions, Acher should still have eventually become a righteous man. Why did it have such negative results? He explains that when it comes to educating a child from a very young age, the initial influences must be rooted in purity.

Let us return to Rivka. Some Meforshim say that when Rivka came to the house of Avraham and Yitzchak, surrounded by righteous people, she was able to rise to the occasion and replace Sarah. But to be a mother of klal Yisrael, it is not sufficient to be circumstantially righteous. One must have it instilled from infancy. Therefore, Rashi hightlights that even when she was in the house of Besuel and Lavan, surrounded by wicked people, her roots were still pure. The Torah repeats the decadent environment of her upbringing to underscore that despite this she was righteous from her youth. Her innate, untainted holiness destined her to be a mother of klal Yisrael.

In our lives, creating a 100% pure environment for the education of our children may seem impossible. But at least we must recognize that the level of purity that we attain will affect our children as well.

The common refrain – “He is only a child. Let him be. When he grows up, we will give him a proper education” – has a hidden danger. Rivka’s story shows that it is never too early to properly educate. Chazal in this week’s parsha tell us that when Eisav would offer sacrifices to idols, it did not bother Rivka as much as it bothered Yitzchak because she was somewhat inured to it from what she witnessed as a small child.  Though she left her home when she was three years old, that exposure had an impact on her decades later. I am sure that many of us can think back and recall fleeting moments from our formative years, which though trivial, still affect our character and our conduct.

The sacred duty of chinuch entrusted to every parent is both immense and vital. Hashem understands that we may at times make mistakes. However, our job is to shoot for excellence, starting at the youngest of years.