הלכות תלמוד תורה ה׳Torah Study 5

Halacha 1א׳

כְּשֵׁם שֶׁאָדָם מְצֻוֶּה בִּכְבוֹד אָבִיו וְיִרְאָתוֹ כָּךְ הוּא חַיָּב בִּכְבוֹד רַבּוֹ וְיִרְאָתוֹ יֶתֶר מֵאָבִיו. שֶׁאָבִיו מְבִיאוֹ לְחַיֵּי הָעוֹלָם הַזֶּה וְרַבּוֹ שֶׁלִּמְּדוֹ חָכְמָה מְבִיאוֹ לְחַיֵּי הָעוֹלָם הַבָּא. רָאָה אֲבֵדַת אָבִיו וַאֲבֵדַת רַבּוֹ שֶׁל רַבּוֹ קוֹדֶמֶת לְשֶׁל אָבִיו. אָבִיו וְרַבּוֹ נוֹשְׂאִים בְּמַשָּׂא מֵנִיחַ אֶת שֶׁל רַבּוֹ וְאַחַר כָּךְ שֶׁל אָבִיו. אָבִיו וְרַבּוֹ שְׁבוּיִים בַּשִּׁבְיָה פּוֹדֶה אֶת רַבּוֹ וְאַחַר כָּךְ פּוֹדֶה אֶת אָבִיו. וְאִם הָיָה אָבִיו תַּלְמִיד חָכָם פּוֹדֶה אֶת אָבִיו תְּחִלָּה. וְכֵן אִם הָיָה אָבִיו תַּלְמִיד חָכָם אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁאֵינוֹ שָׁקוּל כְּנֶגֶד רַבּוֹ מֵשִׁיב אֲבֵדָתוֹ וְאַחַר כָּךְ מֵשִׁיב אֲבֵדַת רַבּוֹ. וְאֵין לְךָ כָּבוֹד גָּדוֹל מִכְּבוֹד הָרַב וְלֹא מוֹרָא מִמּוֹרָא הָרַב. אָמְרוּ חֲכָמִים (משנה אבות ד יב) "מוֹרָא רַבָּךְ כְּמוֹרָא שָׁמַיִם". לְפִיכָךְ אָמְרוּ כָּל הַחוֹלֵק עַל רַבּוֹ כְּחוֹלֵק עַל הַשְּׁכִינָה שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (במדבר כו ט) "בְּהַצֹּתָם עַל ה'". וְכָל הָעוֹשֶׂה מְרִיבָה עִם רַבּוֹ כְּעוֹשֶׂה מְרִיבָה עִם הַשְּׁכִינָה שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (במדבר כ יג) "אֲשֶׁר רָבוּ בְנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל אֶת ה' וַיִּקָּדֵשׁ בָּם". וְכָל הַמִּתְרַעֵם עַל רַבּוֹ כְּמִתְרַעֵם עַל ה' שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (שמות טז ח) "לֹא עָלֵינוּ תְלֻנֹתֵיכֶם כִּי עַל ה'". וְכָל הַמְהַרְהֵר אַחַר רַבּוֹ כְּאִלּוּ מְהַרְהֵר אַחַר שְׁכִינָה שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (במדבר כא ה) "וַיְדַבֵּר הָעָם בֵּאלֹהִים וּבְמשֶׁה":

Just as a person is commanded to honour and revere his father, so is he under an obligation to honour and revere his teacher, even to a greater extent than his father; for his father gave him life in this world, while his teacher who instructs him in wisdom, secures for him life in the world to come. If he sees an article that his father had lost and another article that his teacher had lost, the teacher's property should be recovered first, and then the father's. If his father and his teacher are loaded with burdens, he should first relieve his teacher and then his father. If his father and teacher are in captivity, he should first ransom his father. But, if his father is a scholar, even though not of the same rank as his teacher, he should first recover his father's lost property and then his teacher's. There is no honour higher than that which is due to the teacher; no reverence profounder than that which should be paid him. The sages said "Reverence for thy teacher shall be like the fear of Heaven" (Ethics of the Fathers 4:15). They further said, "Whoever distrusts the authority of his teacher—it is as if he disputes with the Shechinah !; as it is said, "When they strove against the Lord" (Num. 26:9). Whoever starts a quarrel with his teacher, it is as if he started a quarrel with the Shechinah; as it is said, "Where the children of Israel strove with the Lord, and He was sanctified in them" (Num. 20:13). And whoever cherishes resentment against his teacher—it is as if he cherishes resentment against the Lord, as it is said, "Your murmurings are not against us, but against the Lord" (Ex. 16:8). Whoever harbours doubts about his teacher—it is as if he harbours doubts about the Shechinah; as it is said, "And the people spoke against God and against Moses" (Num. 21:3).

Halacha 2ב׳

אֵיזֶהוּ חוֹלֵק עַל רַבּוֹ. זֶה שֶׁקּוֹבֵעַ לוֹ מִדְרָשׁ וְיוֹשֵׁב וְדוֹרֵשׁ וּמְלַמֵּד שֶׁלֹּא בִּרְשׁוּת רַבּוֹ וְרַבּוֹ קַיָּם וְאַף עַל פִּי שֶׁרַבּוֹ בִּמְדִינָה אַחֶרֶת. וְאָסוּר לָאָדָם לְהוֹרוֹת בִּפְנֵי רַבּוֹ לְעוֹלָם. וְכָל הַמּוֹרֶה הֲלָכָה בִּפְנֵי רַבּוֹ חַיָּב מִיתָה:

Who is to be regarded as disputing his teacher's authority ? One who sets up a college, holds sessions, discourses and instructs without his teacher's permission, during the latter's lifetime, and even if he be a resident in another country. To give decisions in his teacher's presence is forbidden at all times. Whoever gives a decision in his teacher's presence is deserving of death.

Halacha 3ג׳

הָיָה בֵּינוֹ וּבֵין רַבּוֹ שְׁנֵים עָשָׂר מִיל וְשָׁאַל לוֹ אָדָם דְּבַר הֲלָכָה מֻתָּר לְהָשִׁיב. וּלְהַפְרִישׁ מִן הָאִסּוּר אֲפִלּוּ בִּפְנֵי רַבּוֹ מֻתָּר לְהוֹרוֹת. כֵּיצַד. כְּגוֹן שֶׁרָאָה אָדָם עוֹשֶׂה דָּבָר הָאָסוּר מִפְּנֵי שֶׁלֹּא יָדַע בְּאִסּוּרוֹ אוֹ מִפְּנֵי רִשְׁעוֹ יֵשׁ לוֹ לְהַפְרִישׁוֹ וְלוֹמַר לוֹ דָּבָר זֶה אָסוּר וַאֲפִלּוּ בִּפְנֵי רַבּוֹ וְאַף עַל פִּי שֶׁלֹּא נָתַן לוֹ רַבּוֹ רְשׁוּת. שֶׁכָּל מָקוֹם שֶׁיֵּשׁ חִלּוּל הַשֵּׁם אֵין חוֹלְקִין כָּבוֹד לָרַב. בַּמֶּה דְּבָרִים אֲמוּרִים. בְּדָבָר שֶׁנִּקְרָה מִקְרֶה. אֲבָל לִקְבֹּעַ עַצְמוֹ לְהוֹרָאָה וְלֵישֵׁב וּלְהוֹרוֹת לְכָל שׁוֹאֵל אֲפִלּוּ הוּא בְּסוֹף הָעוֹלָם וְרַבּוֹ בְּסוֹף הָעוֹלָם אָסוּר לוֹ לְהוֹרוֹת עַד שֶׁיָּמוּת רַבּוֹ אֶלָּא אִם כֵּן נָטַל רְשׁוּת מֵרַבּוֹ. וְלֹא כָּל מִי שֶׁמֵּת רַבּוֹ מֻתָּר לוֹ לֵישֵׁב וּלְהוֹרוֹת בַּתּוֹרָה. אֶלָּא אִם כֵּן הָיָה תַּלְמִיד שֶׁהִגִּיעַ לְהוֹרָאָה:

If there was a distance of twelve mils** A mil (Hebrew mile) is 2,000 cubits. between him and his teacher and a question was put to him concerning a rule of practice, he may give the answer; and, to save a man from doing what is forbidden, he may give a decision even in his teacher's presence. For instance, if he sees one committing a violation of the Law, because that person did not know that it is prohibited, or out of sheer wickedness, it is his duty to check the wrongdoer and say to him "This is forbidden". He should do so, even in the presence of his master, and even if the latter has not given him permission. For to save God's name from being profaned, we forego the honour due to the teacher. This however is only permitted casually. But to assume the function of a decisionist and give decisions regularly to all enquirers, even if he and his teacher live at opposite ends of the earth, is forbidden to a disciple, during his teacher's lifetime, unless he has his teacher's permission. Nor even after his teacher's death, may any disciple regularly give decisions, unless he has attained a standard of knowledge qualifying him to do so.

Halacha 4ד׳

וְכָל תַּלְמִיד שֶׁלֹּא הִגִּיעַ לְהוֹרָאָה וּמוֹרֶה הֲרֵי זֶה רָשָׁע שׁוֹטֶה וְגַס הָרוּחַ. וְעָלָיו נֶאֱמַר (משלי ז כו) "כִּי רַבִּים חֲלָלִים הִפִּילָה" וְגוֹ'. וְכֵן חָכָם שֶׁהִגִּיעַ לְהוֹרָאָה וְאֵינוֹ מוֹרֶה הֲרֵי זֶה מוֹנֵעַ תּוֹרָה וְנוֹתֵן מִכְשׁוֹלוֹת לִפְנֵי הָעִוְּרִים וְעָלָיו נֶאֱמַר (משלי ז כו) "וַעֲצֻמִים כָּל הֲרֻגֶיהָ". אֵלּוּ הַתַּלְמִידִים הַקְּטַנִּים שֶׁלֹּא הִרְבּוּ תּוֹרָה כָּרָאוּי וְהֵם מְבַקְּשִׁים לְהִתְגַּדֵּל בִּפְנֵי עַמֵּי הָאָרֶץ וּבֵין אַנְשֵׁי עִירָם וְקוֹפְצִין וְיוֹשְׁבִין בָּרֹאשׁ לְדִין וּלְהוֹרוֹת בְּיִשְׂרָאֵל הֵם הַמַּרְבִּים הַמַּחֲלֹקֶת וְהֵם הַמַּחֲרִיבִים אֶת הָעוֹלָם וְהַמְכַבִּין נֵרָהּ שֶׁל תּוֹרָה וְהַמְחַבְּלִים כֶּרֶם ה' צְבָאוֹת. עֲלֵיהֶם אָמַר שְׁלֹמֹה בְּחָכְמָתוֹ (שיר השירים ב טו) "אֶחֱזוּ לָנוּ שׁוּעָלִים שׁוּעָלִים קְטַנִּים מְחַבְּלִים כְּרָמִים":

A disciple who is not thus qualified and nevertheless gives decisions is "wicked, foolish and of an arrogant spirit" (Ethics of the Fathers 4:9). And of him it is said, "For she hath cast down many wounded" (Prov. 7:26). On the other hand, a sage, who is qualified and refrains from rendering decisions, withholds knowledge of the Torah and puts stumbling blocks before the blind. Of him it is said "Even the mighty are all her slain" (Prov. 7:26). The students of small minds who have acquired an insufficient knowledge of the Torah, and yet seek to aggrandise themselves before the ignorant and among their townsmen by impertinently putting themselves forward and presuming to judge and render decisions in Israel—these are the ones who multiply strife, devastate the world, quench the light of the Torah and spoil the vineyard of the Lord of hosts. Of such, Solomon, in his wisdom, said "Seize for us the foxes, the little foxes that spoil the vineyard" (Song of Songs 2:15).

Halacha 5ה׳

וְאָסוּר לוֹ לְתַלְמִיד לִקְרוֹת לְרַבּוֹ בִּשְׁמוֹ וַאֲפִלּוּ שֶׁלֹּא בְּפָנָיו. וְהוּא שֶׁיִּהְיֶה הַשֵּׁם פֶּלְאִי שֶׁכָּל הַשּׁוֹמֵעַ יֵדַע שֶׁהוּא פְּלוֹנִי. וְלֹא יַזְכִּיר שְׁמוֹ בְּפָנָיו וַאֲפִלּוּ לִקְרוֹת לַאֲחֵרִים שֶׁשְּׁמָם כְּשֵׁם רַבּוֹ כְּדֶרֶךְ שֶׁעוֹשֶׂה בְּשֵׁם אָבִיו. אֶלָּא יְשַׁנֶּה אֶת שְׁמָם אֲפִלּוּ לְאַחַר מוֹתָם. וְלֹא יִתֵּן שָׁלוֹם לְרַבּוֹ אוֹ יַחֲזִיר לוֹ שָׁלוֹם כְּדֶרֶךְ שֶׁנּוֹתְנִים לְרֵעִים וּמַחֲזִירִים זֶה לָזֶה. אֶלָּא שׁוֹחֶה לְפָנָיו וְאוֹמֵר לוֹ בְּיִרְאָה וְכָבוֹד שָׁלוֹם עָלֶיךָ רַבִּי. וְאִם נָתַן לוֹ רַבּוֹ שָׁלוֹם יַחֲזִיר לוֹ שָׁלוֹם עָלֶיךָ רַבִּי וּמוֹרִי:

A disciple is forbidden to call his teacher by his name, even when the latter is not present. This rule only applies if the name is unusual, so that any one hearing it knows who is meant. In his presence, the pupil must never mention his teacher's name, even if he desires to call another person who bears the same name; the same is the rule with his father's name. In referring to them even after their death, he should use a descriptive title, ("my honoured father", or "my honoured teacher"). A disciple may not greet his teacher or return his greeting in the same manner as people are wont to greet their companions and return their greetings. But he should bow to his teacher and address him with reverence and deference "Peace be unto thee, my teacher". If the teacher greeted him first, he should respond "Peace to thee, my teacher and master".

Halacha 6ו׳

וְכֵן לֹא יַחֲלֹץ תְּפִלָּיו לִפְנֵי רַבּוֹ. וְלֹא יָסֵב אֶלָּא יוֹשֵׁב כְּיוֹשֵׁב לִפְנֵי הַמֶּלֶךְ. וְלֹא יִתְפַּלֵּל לֹא לִפְנֵי רַבּוֹ וְלֹא לְאַחַר רַבּוֹ וְלֹא בְּצַד רַבּוֹ. וְאֵין צָרִיךְ לוֹמַר שֶׁאָסוּר לוֹ לְהַלֵּךְ בְּצִדּוֹ. אֶלָּא יִתְרַחֵק לְאַחַר רַבּוֹ וְלֹא יְהֵא מְכַוֵּן כְּנֶגֶד אֲחוֹרָיו וְאַחַר כָּךְ יִתְפַּלֵּל. וְלֹא יִכָּנֵס עִם רַבּוֹ בַּמֶּרְחָץ. וְלֹא יֵשֵׁב בִּמְקוֹם רַבּוֹ. וְלֹא יַכְרִיעַ דְּבָרָיו בְּפָנָיו. וְלֹא יִסְתֹּר אֶת דְּבָרָיו. וְלֹא יֵשֵׁב לְפָנָיו עַד שֶׁיֹּאמַר לוֹ שֵׁב. וְלֹא יַעֲמֹד מִלְּפָנָיו עַד שֶׁיֹּאמַר לוֹ עֲמֹד אוֹ עַד שֶׁיִּטּל רְשׁוּת לַעֲמֹד. וּכְשֶׁיִּפָּטֵר מֵרַבּוֹ לֹא יַחֲזֹר לוֹ לַאֲחוֹרָיו אֶלָּא נִרְתָּע לַאֲחוֹרָיו וּפָנָיו כְּנֶגֶד פָּנָיו:

So too, he should not remove his phylacteries in his teacher's presence, nor recline in his presence, but should sit respectfully, as one sits before a king. He should not recite his prayers, while standing in front of his teacher, or behind him, or at his side; needless to add, that he must not step (backward or forward) side by side with the teacher, but should stand at a distance in the rear, not however, exactly behind his teacher, and then he can offer up his devotions. He must not go with his teacher into the same bath room. He must not sit in his teacher's seat. When his teacher and a colleague dispute with one another, he must not, in his teacher's presence, interpose his opinion as to who is right. He must not contradict his teacher's statements. He may not sit down in his teacher's presence, till he is told "be seated", nor stand up, till he is told to stand up, or till he obtains permission to stand up. And when he quits, he must not turn his back, but should retire with his face to his teacher.

Halacha 7ז׳

וְחַיָּב לַעֲמֹד מִפְּנֵי רַבּוֹ מִשֶּׁיִּרְאֶנּוּ מֵרָחוֹק מְלֹא עֵינָיו עַד שֶׁיִּתְכַּסֶּה מִמֶּנּוּ וְלֹא יִרְאֶה קוֹמָתוֹ וְאַחַר כָּךְ יֵשֵׁב. וְחַיָּב אָדָם לְהַקְבִּיל פְּנֵי רַבּוֹ בָּרֶגֶל:

It is his duty to rise before his teacher, from the moment he sees him at a distance, (and keep standing) till he disappears from view and is no longer visible; then the disciple may resume his seat. It is a person's duty to visit his teacher on the festivals.

Halacha 8ח׳

אֵין חוֹלְקִין כָּבוֹד לְתַלְמִיד בִּפְנֵי רַבּוֹ אֶלָּא אִם כֵּן דֶּרֶךְ רַבּוֹ לַחֲלֹק לוֹ כָּבוֹד. וְכָל הַמְּלָאכוֹת שֶׁהָעֶבֶד עוֹשֶׂה לְרַבּוֹ תַּלְמִיד עוֹשֶׂה לְרַבּוֹ. וְאִם הָיָה בְּמָקוֹם שֶׁאֵין מַכִּירִין אוֹתוֹ וְלֹא הָיוּ לוֹ תְּפִלִּין וְחָשׁ שֶׁמָּא יֹאמְרוּ עֶבֶד הוּא אֵינוֹ נוֹעֵל לוֹ מִנְעָלוֹ וְאֵינוֹ חוֹלְצוֹ. וְכָל הַמּוֹנֵעַ תַּלְמִידוֹ מִלְּשַׁמְּשׁוֹ מוֹנֵעַ מִמֶּנּוּ חֶסֶד וּפוֹרֵק מִמֶּנּוּ יִרְאַת שָׁמַיִם. וְכָל תַּלְמִיד שֶׁמְּזַלְזֵל דָּבָר מִכָּל כְּבוֹד רַבּוֹ גּוֹרֵם לַשְּׁכִינָה שֶׁתִּסְתַּלֵּק מִיִּשְׂרָאֵל:

Courtesy must not be shown to a pupil in the teacher's presence, unless the teacher himself is wont to show courtesy to that pupil. The various offices that a slave performs for his master, a pupil performs for his teacher. If however he is in a place where he is unknown, and has no phylacteries with him** Only worn by free Israelites., and fears that people will say that he is a slave, he does not help his teacher to put on or remove his shoes. Whoever refuses his pupil's services, withholds kindness from him and removes from him the fear of Heaven**** Suggested by the exhortation in the Ethics of the Fathers “Let reverence for thy teacher be as the fear of Heaven”.. A pupil who neglects any of the courtesies due to his master causes the Schechinah to depart from Israel.

Halacha 9ט׳

רָאָה רַבּוֹ עוֹבֵר עַל דִּבְרֵי תּוֹרָה אוֹמֵר לוֹ לִמַּדְתָּנוּ רַבֵּנוּ כָּךְ וְכָךְ. וְכָל זְמַן שֶׁמַּזְכִּיר שְׁמוּעָה בְּפָנָיו אוֹמֵר לוֹ כָּךְ לִמַּדְתָּנוּ רַבֵּנוּ. וְאַל יֹאמַר דָּבָר שֶׁלֹּא שָׁמַע מֵרַבּוֹ עַד שֶׁיַּזְכִּיר שֵׁם אוֹמְרוֹ. וּכְשֶׁיָּמוּת רַבּוֹ קוֹרֵעַ כָּל בְּגָדָיו עַד שֶׁהוּא מְגַלֶּה אֶת לִבּוֹ וְאֵינוֹ מְאַחֶה לְעוֹלָם. בַּמֶּה דְּבָרִים אֲמוּרִים בְּרַבּוֹ מֻבְהָק שֶׁלָּמַד מִמֶּנּוּ רֹב חָכְמָתוֹ. אֲבָל אִם לֹא לָמַד מִמֶּנּוּ רֹב חָכְמָתוֹ הֲרֵי זֶה תַּלְמִיד חָבֵר וְאֵינוֹ חַיָּב בִּכְבוֹדוֹ בְּכָל אֵלּוּ הַדְּבָרִים. אֲבָל עוֹמֵד מִלְּפָנָיו וְקוֹרֵעַ עָלָיו כְּשֵׁם שֶׁהוּא קוֹרֵעַ עַל כָּל הַמֵּתִים שֶׁהוּא מִתְאַבֵּל עֲלֵיהֶם. אֲפִלּוּ לֹא לָמַד מִמֶּנּוּ אֶלָּא דָּבָר אֶחָד בֵּין קָטָן בֵּין גָּדוֹל עוֹמֵד מִלְּפָנָיו וְקוֹרֵעַ עָלָיו:

If a pupil saw his teacher violating the ordinances of the Torah, he should say to him, "Our master, thus and thus, hast thou taught us". Whenever a pupil recites a dictum in his teacher's presence, he should say "Thus, our master, hast thou taught us". He should never quote a dictum that he has not heard from his teacher, without giving the authority for it. When his teacher dies, he rends all the garments he wears till he bares his breast. These rents he nver sews up. These rules only apply to the chief teacher from whom one has learnt most of what he knows. But his relation to one from whom he did not acquire most of his knowledge is that of a junior to a senior fellow-student. Towards such a senior student (who was at the same time his teacher), the disciple is not required to observe all the above-mentioned points of courtesy. But the junior has to stand up before him, and, on his demise, has to rend his garments, just as he does for a deceased relative for whom he mourns. Even if one learnt from a person one thing only, be it great or small, one has to stand up before that person and rend one's garments at his demise.

Halacha 10י׳

וְכָל תַּלְמִיד חָכָם שֶׁדֵּעוֹתָיו מְכֻוָּנוֹת אֵינוֹ מְדַבֵּר בִּפְנֵי מִי שֶׁהוּא גָּדוֹל מִמֶּנּוּ בְּחָכְמָה אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁלֹּא לָמַד מִמֶּנּוּ כְּלוּם:

No scholar who possesses good manners will speak before his superior in knowledge, even if he has learnt nothing from him.

Halacha 11י״א

הָרַב הַמֻּבְהָק שֶׁרָצָה לִמְחל עַל כְּבוֹדוֹ בְּכָל הַדְּבָרִים הָאֵלּוּ אוֹ בְּאֶחָד מֵהֶן לְכָל תַּלְמִידָיו אוֹ לְאֶחָד מֵהֶן הָרְשׁוּת בְּיָדוֹ. וְאַף עַל פִּי שֶׁמָּחַל חַיָּב הַתַּלְמִיד לְהַדְּרוֹ וַאֲפִלּוּ בְּשָׁעָה שֶׁמָּחַל:

If one's chief teacher desires to excuse all his pupils or any one of them from all or any of these observances, he may do so. But even then, the disciple must show courtesy to him, even at the moment when he explicitly dispenses with it.

Halacha 12י״ב

כְּשֵׁם שֶׁהַתַּלְמִידִים חַיָּבִין בִּכְבוֹד הָרַב כָּךְ הָרַב צָרִיךְ לְכַבֵּד אֶת תַּלְמִידָיו וּלְקָרְבָן. כָּךְ אָמְרוּ חֲכָמִים (משנה אבות ד יב) "יְהִי כְּבוֹד תַּלְמִידְךָ חָבִיב עָלֶיךָ כְּשֶׁלְּךָ". וְצָרִיךְ אָדָם לְהִזָּהֵר בְּתַלְמִידָיו וּלְאָהֳבָם שֶׁהֵם הַבָּנִים הַמְהַנִּים לָעוֹלָם הַזֶּה וְלָעוֹלָם הַבָּא:

As pupils are bound to honour their teacher, so a teacher ought to show courtesy and friendliness to his pupils. The sages said "Let the honour of thy disciples be as dear to thee as thine own" (Ethics of the Fathers 4:15). A man should take an interest in his pupils and love them, for they are his spiritual children who will bring him happiness in this world and in the world hereafter.

Halacha 13י״ג

הַתַּלְמִידִים מוֹסִיפִין חָכְמַת הָרַב וּמַרְחִיבִין לִבּוֹ. אָמְרוּ חֲכָמִים הַרְבֵּה חָכְמָה לָמַדְתִּי מֵרַבּוֹתַי וְיוֹתֵר מֵחֲבֵרַי וּמִתַּלְמִידַי יוֹתֵר מִכֻּלָּם. וּכְשֵׁם שֶׁעֵץ קָטָן מַדְלִיק אֶת הַגָּדוֹל כָּךְ תַּלְמִיד קָטָן מְחַדֵּד הָרַב עַד שֶׁיּוֹצִיא מִמֶּנּוּ בִּשְׁאֵלוֹתָיו חָכְמָה מְפֹאָרָה:

Disciples increase the teacher's wisdom and broaden his mind. The sages said, "Much wisdom I learnt from my teachers, more from my colleagues; from my pupils, most of all". Even as a small piece of wood kindles a large log, so a pupil of small attainments sharpens the mind of his teacher, so that by his questions, he elicits glorious wisdom.