Good Deeds: The Offspring of the Righteous

Chazal learn from the juxtaposition of the Torah’s description of Noach as a righteous man to the statement, “these are the offspring of Noach”, that good deeds are the offspring of Tzadikim. The obvious message is to equate the notion that Tzadikim do Mitzvot (give birth to good deeds) as naturally as adults procreate. The message is lofty and one that all who aspire to truly connect to Hashem need to work toward.

HaRav Moshe Feinstein, Z”L saw another connection between parents-children and tzadikim-mitzvot. He said that tzadikim love performing and fulfilling mitzvot in the same way parents love children. They have unconditional love for their offspring and desire to take care of them and be there for them despite any challenges and hardships that it entails. So to, a tzadik does not see mitzvot as hard and burdensome. He does not ever contemplate the cost for doing a mitzvah against the reward/benefit, but rather approachs all mitzvah opportunities with the same enthusiasm and effort.

This insight provides a dual message for parents and mechanchim. Regarding mitzvah observance in general, what a great chinuch that children can receive in their homes when they witness firsthand day in and out their parents embracing observance with the same love and endearment as they demonstrate towards the children themselves.  It’s sure to place in the minds and hearts of children growing up in a loving family that mitzvah observance is just as important to their parents as they are.

In particular, the mitzvah of Talmud Torah will greatly be enhanced if this mindset is embraced by mechanchim. Consider the impact on a child whose Rebbe or Morah treats him with the same unconditional love that he receives from his parents. The child will come to implicitly trust his Rebbe to enable him to come to school each day feeling safe and cared for no matter what challenges and difficulties he may present or learning limitation he may have.

This outlook is reinforced by the words of the Torah, Veshinantam L’vanecha- “And you shall teach your children diligently”. Chazal tell us that the Torah is referring to a Rebbe, you shall teach your students diligently. If so, why did the Torah use the term “children” and not “students”?  We are taught that to be successful in fulfilling the mitzvah of Talmud Torah to the point of positively impacting a child’s eternity, the Rebbe needs to see his students as his own biological offspring.  No less than Moshe Rabeinu, the greatest Rebbe in the history of our people was this principle practiced. Chazal tell us that Moshe’s relationship as a Rebbe to his brother’s sons is looked upon as if he biologically fathered them.

Practically speaking, developing a true unconditional love for someone else’s child is not an easy feat, all the more so a classroom full of children. I think there are three key points that a person needs to embrace sincerely to approach this ideal relationship with students. First, HaRav Moshe’s understanding of a tzadik’s relationship to mitzvot; Second, All of Am Yisroel are considered “children of Hashem”; and third, all Rebeyiim and Morot who see their work with Jewish children as a Holy endeavor, are considered to be sh’luchei d’rachmana.

May we all, parents and teachers receive the siyata d’shmaya to be matzliach.