Torah Study Chapter 5

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":

As a person is commanded to honor his father and fear him, so is he obligated to honor his teacher and fear him. More than his father, for his father gave him life in this world, but a teacher who teaches him wisdom gives him life in the world to come. [Note: This is not a complete translation of halacha 1, it only covers the first few lines.]

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:

What is meant by disputing the authority of one's teacher? A person who establishes a house of study [where] he sits, explains, and teaches without his teacher's permission in his teacher's lifetime. [This applies] even when one's teacher is in another country. It is forbidden to ever render a halachic judgment in one's teacher's presence. Whoever renders a halachic judgment in his teacher's presence is worthy of death.

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 a person asked [a student] regarding a halachic question and there were twelve mil between him and his teacher, he is permitted to answer. [Furthermore,] to prevent a transgression, it is permitted to give a halachic judgment even in the presence of one's teacher. What does the above imply? For example, one saw a person perform a forbidden act because he was unaware of the prohibition or because of his perversity, he should [try to] prevent him [by] telling him: "This is forbidden." [This] applies even in his teacher's presence and even though one's teacher had not given him permission. Wherever the desecration of G-d's name is involved, no deference is paid to a teacher's honor. When does the above apply? With regard to a matter that came up incidentally. However, establishing oneself as a halachic authority to sit and reply to all who ask concerning halachic matters is forbidden, even if [the student] is at one end of the world and the teacher at the other, until either: a) the teacher dies; or b) the student receives permission from his teacher. Not everyone whose teacher dies is permitted to sit and render judgment concerning Torah law; only one who is a student worthy of rendering judgment.

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":

And every student who has not reached the level required to instruct [on matters of Halakha] and instructs; is wicked, insane, and of foul spirit. And it is said about him (Proverbs 7, 26): "For she hath cast down many wounded". And so too a learned man who has reached the level required to instruct [on matters of Halakha] and does not instruct, he prevents Torah, and places obstacles before the blind, and it is said about him (Ibid): "Yea, a mighty host are all her slain." These are the young students who have not accumulated Torah appropriately. These young students that did not appropriately accumulate knowledge of Torah, and they seek aggrandizement before the common folk and the people of their city, and they pounce upon great positions to judge and teach in Israel, they exarcerbate disputes, and they are the destroyers of the world, and the extinguishers of the candle of Torah, and the vandals of the vineyard of Hashem the Lord of Hosts. And Solomon said about them in his wisdom (Song of Songs 2, 15) "Take us the foxes, the little foxes, that spoil the vineyards".

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:

It is forbidden for a student to refer to his teacher by name, even outside his presence. He should not mention his name in his presence, even when referring to others with the same name as his teacher - as he does with the name of his father. Rather, he should refer to them with different names, even after their death. The above applies when the name is unusual, and all will thus know to whom it refers. [A student] should not greet his teacher or respond to the latter's greeting, as is customary when two friends exchange greetings. Rather, he should bow before him and say with awe and reverence: "Peace be upon you, my master." If his teacher greeted him, he should respond: "Peace be upon you, my teacher and master."

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:

Similarly, he should not remove his tefillin in the presence of his teacher, nor should he recline in his presence. Rather, he should sit before him as one sits before a king. A person should not pray either in front of his teacher, behind his teacher, or at his teacher's side. Needless to say, one should not walk by his side. Rather, he should distance himself behind his teacher without standing directly behind him and then pray. One should not enter a bathhouse together with his teacher or sit in his teacher's place. One should not side against his teacher's opinion in his presence or contradict his statements. One should not sit in his presence until he tells him to sit. One should not stand before him until he tells him to stand or until he receives permission to stand. When one departs from his teacher, one should not turn his back to him. Rather, one should walk backwards while facing him.

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

A person is obligated to stand before his teacher from the time he sees him - as far away as he can see - until [he passes beyond his field of vision] and is hidden: his figure no longer visible. Then, [the student] may sit. A person is obligated to visit his teacher during the festivals.

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:

Deference should not be shown to a student while in the presence of his teacher, unless it is customary for his teacher also to show him deference. All the services which a servant performs for his master should be performed by a student for his teacher. [However,] if [the student] was in a place where he was not recognized and was not wearing tefillin - should he suspect that people will say he is a servant - he need not put on [his teacher's] shoe or remove it. Whoever prevents his student from serving him withholds kindness from him and takes away his fear of heaven. Any student who deals lightly with a matter related to the honor of his teacher causes the Divine Presence to depart from Israel.

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:

[A student who] saw his teacher transgress the words of the Torah should tell him: you have taught us such and such. Whenever he mentions a teaching in his presence, he should tell him: "You have taught us the following, master." He should not mention a concept which he did not hear from his teacher unless he mentions the name of the person who authored it. When his teacher dies, he should rend all his garments until he reveals his heart. He should never mend them. When does the above apply? To one's outstanding teacher from whom one has gained the majority of his wisdom. However, a person who has not gained the majority of his wisdom under a teacher's instruction is considered to be both a student and colleague. He is not obligated to honor him in all the above matters. Nevertheless, he should stand before him, rend his garments at his [death], as he does for all the deceased for whom he is obligated to mourn. Even if he learned only one thing from him, whether it be a small or great matter, he should stand before him and rend his garments at his [death].

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

Every student with a proper character will not speak in front of anyone who is wiser than he is, even though he has not learned anything from him.

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:

An outstanding teacher may, if he desires, forgo his honor with regard to any or all of the above matters to any or all his students. Even though he forgoes [these honors], the student is obligated to respect him at the time he forgoes [respect].

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 the students are obligated to honor their teacher, so is the teacher required to honor his students and hold them close. Thus say the sages: The honor of your students should be as precious to you as your own. And a man should watch over his students and love them as they are his children to enjoy in this world and in the world to come.

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:

Students increase their teacher's wisdom and broaden his horizons. Our Sages declared: "I learned much wisdom from my teachers and even more from my colleagues. However, from my students [I learned] most of all." Just as a small branch is used to light a large bough, so a small student sharpens his teacher's [thinking processes], until, through his questions, he brings forth brilliant wisdom.