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Jewish Poetry warms a winter night. 12/07
Importance
of Minyan
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Message
from
Rabbi Seth J. Sternstein
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Posted February
2008
What a Rabbi thinks about on his birthday
Dear Friends;
Every once in a while an event takes place that touches our souls. For
me, such an event took place two days ago. The entire Hebrew school –
students and teachers - assembled to sing me Happy Birthday (in English
and then in Hebrew).
Now, I don’t make big deals over birthdays. (I used to – especially
prior to my Bar mitzvah). But, what made this birthday so special was
the sense of love I felt at that moment. My students (they’re all my
students, even if they are taught by our outstanding staff of
educators) glowed with enthusiasm and happiness that they could do
something for me which would make me happy.
Your children’s’ outpouring of affection reminded me of a Rabbinic idea
that, among the ideal forms of love are that of a parent for a child,
and a rebbe for his talmid (student). That love is freely given, never
coerced, and benefits both, asking for no repayment of any kind.
Obviously, in a healthy relationship, a parent wants what is best for a
child. Parents want their child to feel safe and loved at home; to
succeed in school; to maintain their health; to develop their full
physical and mental potential. Parents work hard to see that they can
provide the necessities of life plus a few luxuries, wherever possible.
Often parents will forego their own pleasures, just to see a child move
forward in life. And a parent doesn’t seek payment. No one bills their
child for rent, or food, or love given freely. Parents reap their
reward when their child succeeds by becoming a mensch. Can any parent
put a price tag on that? Of course not. That is pure love. Indeed, most
parents would kvell (feel thrilled) if their child succeeded beyond the
parents achievements. That is ideal love.
Our tradition teaches us that the rebbe – talmid relationship ought to
mirror that type of love. A rebbe helps nurture his student’s love of
Torah, cultivate the best qualities within, inspire a student to seek
God and the Jewish people ever more intently, and so on. It’s a tall
order, and it’s what Judaism wants to foster. Just as in the healthy
parent-child relationship, in the healthy rebbe-talmid relationship,
there is no room for jealousy. There is no thought of repayment. Only
the pleasant satisfaction that as parent has raised a mensch, rebbe has
raised a talmid chacham (student of Torah).
Knowing that my students (of any age) learn to love Torah, expand their
performance of mitzvot, and increase their kindly activities is of
inestimable value to me. That many of my students will be spurred to
greater Jewish knowledge, and may attain more than I have, is a reward
in and of itself.
This is what I thought about on my birthday, as I listened to the sweet
voices of our kids. I pray that all of us will be blessed to see our
children grow to be menschen, and shine forth in Torah, mitzvot and
acts of kindness.
Rabbi Seth Sternstein
Adar 1, 5768/February, 2008
Rabbi
Seth J. Sternstein
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