A message to all new (and experienced!) teachers of Torah
No one should ever enter the field of chinuch because it’s “the right thing to do”; because it is expected by their family school or community; or good for a shidduch. Every teacher must be eager and passionate in embracing this holy profession. Suffice it to say that Hashem calls Himself “HaMelamed – the Teacher.”
Years ago I taught grades 9 10 and 11 in Bais Yaakov. Although my subject was mitzvos I always started class by asking “Who lied during the past few days? Why did you have to lie? In retrospect how could you have avoided lying? And was it worth it?” I always had students who voluntarily answered these questions and the entire class participated in the resulting discussion. Scores of grandmothers — former students —have commented to me over the years “I haven’t lied since I left Bais Yaakov.”
Teaching Torah as a way of life must be transmitted in a tangible hands-on fashion or it may not last. The Midrash tells us that all of the 613 mitzvos are incorporated into the Aseres HaDibros the Ten Commandments.
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