Studying Torah
The Holy Temple in Jerusalem was destroyed nearly two thousand years ago, and since then we mourn its loss and pray for its reconstruction. Until then, we have the opportunity to build our own ‘private Temple’. A Temple is a place where the Divine Presence dwells, and just as it was then in Jerusalem, it is now in our private home: if we perform mitzvot and good deeds in it and study Torah in it – we will turn it into a ‘small Temple’, and then the presence of the Creator will be felt in it, bringing abundance of blessings to our home.
In addition to our personal obligation to study Torah every day – which we can fulfill anywhere – we should strive to study Torah every day also within our private home. This brings holiness and blessings and also adds a special value that affects the entire atmosphere of the house.
The children see us sitting and studying Torah every day, they observe us connecting to the amazing lineage of the Jewish people, the ‘People of the Book’, and this is ingrained in their minds and hearts more than any talk or moral lesson.
For more about the study of Torah in general, its virtues and its laws, see extensively on Torah Study – Daily Jewish Life.
Fulfilling mitzvot
Fulfilling mitzvot at home also creates a special atmosphere and sanctity. Every additional mitzvah that we perform at home (like giving charity, washing hands, blessings, etc.) brings holiness and physical and spiritual influences to the home.
It should be noted that in general, we are not talking about mitzvot like prayer, which should ideally be performed in a synagogue and in a community, and also not about any mitzvah that can be performed collectively – then it is better and ‘quality’ more.
