Mishneh Torah, Divorce 4 · Parenting voice, Bite-sized

Intentionality in the "Ink" of Life

We often view our parenting as a series of "permanent" decisions—the schools we choose, the discipline styles we adopt, the values we instill. Rambam, in Mishneh Torah, Divorce 4:1, teaches that for a legal document to be valid, it must be written with a substance that leaves a "permanent impression." Beverages or fruit juices won't suffice; they fade. We need substance. As we approach Erev Sukkot, we are reminded that even as we dwell in temporary booths (sukkot), our commitment to our families must be permanent and intentional. Like a get (bill of divorce) that requires clarity and permanence to effect change, our parenting "contracts" with our children—our promises, our presence, and our values—require the "ink" of consistency rather than the "fruit juice" of fleeting moods.

Text Snapshot

"A get may be written only with a substance that leaves a permanent impression... If, however, it is written with a substance that does not leave a permanent impression—e.g., beverages, fruit juices or the like—the get is void." Mishneh Torah, Divorce 4:1