תלמוד בבלי מסכת קידושין דף כט עמוד א
תנינא להא דת"ר: האב חייב בבנו למולו, ולפדותו, וללמדו תורה, ולהשיאו אשה, וללמדו אומנות; וי"א: אף להשיטו במים; רבי יהודה אומר: כל שאינו מלמד את בנו אומנות - מלמדו ליסטות. ליסטות ס"ד? אלא, כאילו מלמדו ליסטות .מאי בינייהו? איכא בינייהו, דאגמריה עיסקא.
The rabbis taught: A father has these [Biblical] obligations to his son: to circumcise him, to redeem him, to teach him Torah, to get him a wife, and to teach him a trade. Some say, also to teach him to swim. Rabbi Judah said, "Anyone who does not teach his son a trade teaches him thievery." Thievery? Really? Rather, "it is as though he teaches him thievery." What is the difference between the two? Whether or not one can teach his child business.
Suggested Discussion Questions:
What do you think about a father’s teaching obligations to his son (putting aside for the moment, if you can, the gender issues and reading this as an obligation of parents to their children)? In what way is failing to teach a child a useful skill comparable to teaching them thievery?
Time Period: Rabbinic (Maccabees through the Talmud)