I did not think of teaching children at the age of three, but Rabbi Oded Valansky shlita invited me to his house and explained to me what the profound meaning of the words of Chazal is about the fact that the breath of the babies of Beit Rabban has no sin in it: and what the verse means "
He delivered before me deep sermons in understanding the concept of the end of childhood, what a supreme holiness lies in these pure souls, a saint who embraces the world and builds and establishes the nation for generations, and I was convinced by his words.
On the first day I arrived at Talmud Torah: and found in front of me six - ten sweet children. I sit and tell them about our ancestor Abraham, about how it all started from him. I keep telling and the children sit in front of me fascinated, and within them one child who listens to me with sparkling eyes and swallows every word that comes out of my mouth, for all the wonderful grace of our father Abraham and the degree of divine goodness that filled his whole being.
At the end of the lesson, the children take a break. Less than five minutes pass and I hear terrible screams of terror. I run out and discover to my dismay that that pure and pure child, who did not miss a word from the lesson about the supreme giving of grace of our ancestor Abraham, has now moved on to another issue - the issue of
I rescued the persecuted and poor boy and was immediately persecuted. I rebuked the little 'Abraham our father': and went to submit a letter of resignation to Rabbi Oded. I told him that I take responsibility for the deed: if my student can after such a wonderful lesson come and do such a terrible thing, a sign is that I am not worthy to teach the children of Israel Torah.
Rabbi Oded turned to me and said "and that you do not know that the evil instinct preceded the good instinct thirteen years ?!" He added and explained to me that everything the rabbi says that children are all innocence, purity and purity - everything is true. This is the trait of the child, a handsome and noble trait.
When the little boy hears of the giving of grace of our father Abraham, the thing excites him, evokes in him some deep truth that lies within his soul. This study, this purifying encounter with the fathers of the nation and its giants, raises this truth, the good within it. In this respect there is indeed a breath here that has no sin. But this child is small, he is weak and mindless.
What does it mean to have no opinion? It is not meant to be stupid, that there is no mind. He may be a very smart kid who understands abstract concepts and more complex knowledge than many older people. What he lacks is his judgment, heroism and decisive power.
From "Tzur Hatzvam"
Rabbi Eli Horowitz
