Bein Hazmanim For Teachers
Question:
I am a teacher in a chabad Mossad and consider myself a dedicated teacher. I work hard to prepare my classes, so that they should be engaging and stimulating and feel that I connect well with my students. In order for me to stay energized, I need to separate myself emotionally from my students during the Bein Hazmanim breaks. Is that ok, or does the Rebbe expect more?
Answer:
Before we get into the specifics of your very valid question, It is important to clarify the Rebbe’s approach to Chinuch. To the Rebbe, the teacher-students relationship is all consuming and it needs to permeate every aspect of the life of the student.
The Rebbe often quoted (Likkutei Sichos vol 5 page 376) the following Gemara (Bava Basrah 8b): “And they who turn many to righteousness like the stars for ever and ever”; these are schoolteachers. The Gemara asks: Like whom? Certainly not every schoolteacher is worthy of such accolades. Rav said: For example, Rav Shmuel bar Sheilat. As it is told that Rav once found Rav Shmuel bar Sheilat standing in a garden. Rav said to him: Have you abandoned your trust and neglected your students? Rav Shmuel bar Sheilat said to him: It has been thirteen years now that I have not seen my garden, and even now my thoughts are on the children.”
The following are a few letters where the Rebbe demands this extra level of involvement:
1. In a letter written to the Hanhalla of the Yeshiva in Lod, the Rebbe writes: I want to bring something very important to your attention, and this will also be a test of the dedication of staff of the Yeshiva: “What are the students doing the 24 hours of shabbas, and who is watching over them?” (Igros volume 13 page 359 #4615)
2. To a hanhalla of a Yeshiva that was complaining about the deteriorating attitude and behaviour of their students, the Rebbe responds: “If (the members of the hanhalla) would show an interest in the plight of the students and their behaviour – not just during the hours that they are sitting in their classes, but during their free time – to know A) what they are involved in B) whom they are meeting with C)their behaviour and conversations, then many of the issues would not occur in the first place.
The Rebbe adds:” I have the feeling that the issue is that the staff of the Yeshiva do not feel that this is their responsibility. They suffice with the official hours that they put in and expect others to take the responsibility. This attitude had led to the negative direction in the behaviour of the students.” (Igros volume 14, page 404 #5179).
3. “It is certainly superfluous to motivate you to [arrange] a special program for the vacation days, for it is necessary to prepare such a program ample time before the vacation. As the adage of our Rebbeim states, “According to the stance one adapts, this is the way things proceed.” The same also applies to conduct during the vacation days.” (Igros volume 4 page 392 #1111). The Rebbe actually instructed educators to stay in touch with their students over the time of vacation.
[I want to mention the example set by Rabbi Chaim Levi Yitzchak Ginsberg A”h (Kfar chabad and Rishon Letzion) who would spend his whole chol Hamoed Pesach travelling throughout Eretz Yisrael to visit his Talmidim.]
The Rebbe did not only expect teachers to keep in touch with their current students, but encouraged teachers and institutions to keep in touch with their alumni as well. Here are a few quotes from letters that the Rebbe wrote on this subject:
1. “I am so pleased to read in your letter that your wife stays in touch with her previous students. It is certain that this will bring tremendous benefit to them and it will also bring benefit to her and your entire home.” (Igros volume 7 page 324 #2180).
2. “I hope that this holy institution (Tomchei Temimim) will make an honest cheshbon Tzedek…about what happened to the Talmidim that had left their institution. How many remained focused and live their life as a chassid, how many remained (at least) shomer torah and Mitzvos etc” (Igros volume 11 page 398 #3780).
It is also interesting to mention an answer that the Rebbe wrote to a teacher that complained that he feels totally exhausted after his hours of teaching and wanted advice. The Rebbe responded (Ibid page 52 #3430): “It should be possible to take a small break between classes or make sure that you are well-rested before you begin teaching. When you make the proper vessel in nature, you will receive success in a manner which is higher than nature.”
