Avraham Avinu the Mechanech

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Avraham Avinu has been recognized for many significant eternal achievements and contributions to Israel and mankind. The title Avinu-Our Father seems to describe best his lofty status in Jewish history and reflects upon the gifts he bestowed on all future generations.

Of his many achievements, his accomplishments with Sarah Imeinu of attracting people to the ways of HaShem and working with them to become righteous followers is well documented. Besides the many people that they attracted in Charan and who followed them to the Land of Canan, he continued the same practice everywhere he traveled and sojourned. We are told of the Ashel, the inn that he established for travelers where he was able to draw people closer to HaShem through great acts of Chesed that took place there.

However, it was in the first recorded world war, the fight between the four kings against the five kings that Avraham’s success as a Mechanech is clearly established. The Torah reports that upon hearing the news that his nephew Lot was captured by the four kings that he assembled a force of 318 men to bring him back from his captivity. The Torah refers to these men as Chanichav, his trained men. The Medresh Agadah states that they were trained in the art of warfare and in the fulfillment of the Mitzvos of HaShem. Perhaps, by identifying his men as Chanichav, the Torah is underscoring Avraham’s prowess as a Mechanech. Where else is the quality of training and belief in HaShem proven than in a situation of grave danger. Avraham’s victory against the most powerful army in the world at that time especially with such a puny fighting force indicated how great a Rebbe he was.

Rashi in his commentary on Chumash provided his most comprehensive explanation of Chinuch on this pasuk even though there are other pasukim in Tanach that could be considered more appropriate. Again, it serves to emphasize the greatness of Avraham as a Mechanech.

Let’s take a look at Rashi’s explanation of the Chinuch process that was followed by Avraham Avinu. Chinuch is, “the beginning (of a training process) when a person or vessel (like the mizbayach) enters into an occupation (or function) that he/it will stand in, in the future”. Rashi uses the word “starting” to explain training as a process of working at something continually by starting the process over and over again until mastery is reached. A good example of this is the process a baby goes through to learn how to walk. Stand up, fall down, stand up, fall down and eventually the baby stands up and remains standing. Then the toddler begins to take steps and he steps and falls down, steps and falls down, until he eventually succeeds in walking. The Chinuch process nurtures perseverance in children, a very important life habit.

A second aspect of the chinuch process is embedded in the phrase, “to stand in it”. This phrase connotes independence. That means, the Chinuch training process of stating over and over again until mastery is reached or until the person can stand in this occupation independently. HaRav Moshe Feinstein, Z”L. sees the same message in the lighting of the Menorah in the Mishkan. The Torah uses the word Bahaloscha in reference to lighting instead of the more common word, Hadlaka. Rashi explained that the Cohanim were required to keep the shamash on the Neiros until the flame was able to stand independently.  HaRav Moshe explained that the same holds true for a Rebbe. He needs to guide his students toward mastery and only step away from them once they have reached independence in that lesson.

It’s noteworthy that the closer look at Rashi’s commentary seems to encourage mechanchim to be careful to allow children the space to succeed as much as possible on their own, and to provide the instruction and support when it’s not. Also, the Mechanchim are being encouraged to be cognizant of their students’ progress, to know when there is mastery and allow them to continue by themselves. The chinuch process is placing importance on the need to spend time observing children in their learning. That the Rebbe periodically should step back and watch his students in a mindful way to gain greater insight on how to better reach each one.

This idea is also supported by an insight of HaRav Moshe’s that the Menorah in the Mishkan required the Cohanim to stand on steps when lighting it even though they were easily able to reach the neiros while standing on the ground. He explained that the raised position enabled the Cohanim to observe the lights from above to ensure the success of the lighting process. The same applies to Chinuch. The Mechanech should position himself to observe his students during the learning process.

It’s refreshing that careful review of words of the Torah can glean needed guidance in the Chinuch process. Thank you to Rabbi Jonathon Rietti for his groundbreaking work in this area.