The Study of the law.
"Study is more meritorious than sacrifice."
"A scholar is greater than a prophet."
"The soul of man is the lamp of the Lord; the law is light. God's light (the Law), is in man's hands: man's light (the soul), is in God's hands. Respect His light and he will respect thine."
"The Gentile who studies the Law is as a High Priest."
"Who studies the Law in private, it will proclaim him in public."
"Scholars increase the world's peace. They are called builders for they are engaged in upbuilding the world."
"I have learnt much from my teachers, more from my fellow students, most from my pupils."
"The wise learn from all."
"He only is free who engages in the study of the Law."
"The aim of learning is moral perfection."
Education in General.
In the days when the Temple was still standing, education of the young formed an important part in the life of the Jewish people. They had schools in and out of Judea. Ignorance was despised. "A fool cannot be pious," 'twas said. The studies to be undertaken in accordance with the age of the children, the previous home preparation, the number to a class, were all carefully planned. The curriculum comprised law and morals deduced from Scripture and rabbinic teaching, history, grammar, languages, according to the time, Aramaic, Persian, Greek or Latin. Also to older scholars—medicine, hygiene, astronomy, botany, zoology.
All Scriptural quotation of flowers were applied to children and schools. "Teacher" was the highest title.
"The world depends on the children in the school."
"A city without school-children will be destroyed."
"Touch not mine anointed." These are the school-children. "And to my prophets do no harm." These are the disciples of the wise.
"You should revere your teacher even more than your father. The latter only brought you into this world; the former points the way to the next. But blessed is the son who has learnt from his father, and the father who has instructed his son."
"Who does not educate his children is their enemy and his own."
"Who is best taught? He who has learnt from his mother."
"Who acquires knowledge without imparting it is like a myrtle in a desert."
"Who are you whose prayer has alone been answered?" "I am a teacher of little children."
"Bestow most care on the children of the poor, for from them will go forth the Law."
"Pride is a sign of ignorance."
"A single coin in a jar makes the most noise."
"The rivalry of scholars advances science."
"If thou acquireth knowledge what canst thou lack; if thou lackest knowledge what canst thou acquire!"
Parents and Children.
"Three share a man: God, father and mother. When one honors mother and father, God says He dwells among them; and in honoring them one honors Him."
"Blessed is the generation in which the old listen to the young; doubly blessed when the young listen to the old."
"Do not threaten children with punishment you do not intend to inflict."
"Only when a parent induces a child to commit sin, is disobedience justifiable."
"Do not limit your children to your knowledge, for they were born in another age."
Rabbi Eliezar pointed out to his disciples the example of Damah. His mother often abused him, yet all he would say on such occasions was: 'Enough, dear mother, enough.' Once the priests came to him to purchase a jewel. Finding his father resting against the casket in which it lay, he asked them to come later. They offered him a larger price. He replied, 'I would not disturb my father's rest for all the wealth of the world.' They waited. When his father woke he brought the jewel; they tendered him the larger sum offered the second time. He declined it, saying: 'I will not barter the satisfaction of having done by duty, for gold; give me what you first offered and I will be content.'
Albini allowed none of his five children to open the door for their grandfather or attend his wants. That privilege must be his. Once his father asked for water. On returning he found the old man asleep. So there he remained, glass in hand, until his father awakened.
"Reverence mother and father by neither sitting in their seats nor standing in their places, by not interrupting their speech nor criticising their arguments and by giving heed to their wishes."
"Support the aged without reference to religion, and the learned without reference to age."