“You are children to Hashem your G-d” (Devarim 14:1).
One Shabbos I visited my master and teacher Rav Moshe Rosenstein ztz”l the mashgiach of the Lomza Yeshivah. I found him testing a child on Chumash. I asked him “Whose child is this?” He whispered in my ear “He is a child of Hashem.” Seeing I was surprised at his reply he said “If I’d told you he is Chaim’s son or Shmerel’s son you’d know who he is. So why is it that if I tell you he’s Hashem’s son that doesn’t tell you who he is?”
This is the approach to Jewish children that a rosh yeshivah teacher or mechanech must have — that he or she is teaching the children of the King of kings the Holy One Blessed be He as the pasuk states “You are children of Hashem your G-d.” (Darkei Musar Rav Yaakov Neiman)
The first time I called her name in class I smiled at her but she simply gazed at me with a stony expression. All right Sarah I thought you don’t have to be cheerful and friendly from the start. Every child warms up at her own pace.
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