This week on Guiding Generations, Rabbi Shifman unpacks the deeper parenting message behind the kosher laws in Parshat Shmini. Why does the Torah shift from saying “what may be eaten” to “what shall not be eaten by you”? And what does that teach us about how we raise our children?

Using insights from the Ohr Sameach and Rambam’s Shmona Perakim, Rabbi Shifman explores the difference between mitzvot that refine our behavior and those that reshape our inner world. More than just teaching kids to follow rules, we’re charged with guiding them to internalize values, to feel what’s right—not just act like it.

How do we strike the balance between “I told you so” red lines and opportunities for genuine growth? And how does our own role modeling affect how our children absorb Torah values? This episode is a masterclass in turning mitzvot into tools for character development, not just behavior modification.

Tune in for a powerful, practical guide to raising principled, spiritually attuned children in a world that often only values appearances.