Ladies and gentlemen, why do we encounter problems of marital harmony? He doesn’t accommodate her, she doesn’t accommodate him. Why? Each one is entrenched in their own position, and such a home cannot succeed.
Sometimes, you see this in schools too. Not every teacher, not every educator, not every rabbi, not every leader is blessed with divine assistance to reach the hearts of their students. There comes a teacher who thinks that his students are nails and he is the hammer, but alas, this does not work. In the end, the students are divided and unsuccessful. There’s no wonder that there are all kinds of phenomena. I have seen very few who manage to reach the hearts of their students.
One of the deepest statements I’ve heard in my life is from the holy Rabbi Yoram Michael, my father and master. (I have several lessons on this subject. Whoever enters our study hall ‘Hameir La’aretz’ will see our book series; it’s quite wonderful, of eighteen two-hour lessons.
A series on child education, it’s very special. It’s also available online on the ‘Hameir La’aretz’ website. Eighteen lessons, of two, two and a quarter hours, and they all revolve around this statement.) You can write it down, it’s worth it!
Education is not training. Education is about creating a desire. Do you want to succeed in education? You’re standing in front of a class, do you want to succeed? You’re managing a cheder, a boys school, a girls school, do you want to succeed with the precious children? Of course! Remember: it’s not training, it’s about creating within them a desire. One of the ways to create desire, endlessly, is through love, compliments, and stories of the righteous. Stories of the righteous to no end, and love and compliments for everyone, to endlessly encourage and compliment the children and students, praise them, praise them endlessly.
