A Worthy Investment

“And these are the generations of Yitzchak the son of Avraham; Avraham begot Yitzchak.” (Bereishit 25:19) 

The Power of a Teacher 

R’ Shlomo Kluger’s father was blind and unable to earn a livelihood. In his poverty and destitution, he would seek financial assistance by going door-to-door and asking people for their help. Being blind, he would take his son, R’ Shlomo, with him to serve as his guide. 

One day, they met the Dubno Maggid who asked the father, “How much money can you collect with your son?” 

After the father provided a number, the Maggid replied, “I’ll give you that exact sum of money if you allow me to take your son with me to teach him Torah.” 

The father agreed and the Maggid took the child and began studying Torah with him. R’ Shlomo Kluger eventually became a renowned Torah scholar. 

Tzaddikim later related that after the passing of the Dubno Maggid, he was summoned to the Heavenly Court, where he was shown fifty books. The Court told him that he was going to receive a tremendous reward for all of these books. Astonished, the Maggid said, “But I did not author these books!” 

“Indeed, these books were authored by R’ Shlomo Kluger. However, since you were the one who saved him, spiritually and physically, taught him Torah and contributed to him becoming a great Torah scholar, all of his works are attributed to you as well.” 

Amplified Rewards 

The pasuk (Devarim 4:9) says, “and you shall make them known to your children and to your children’s children.” Chazal (Kiddushin 30a) extrapolates from this pasuk that anyone who teaches his son Torah, it is as if he taught the Torah to himself, his children, his grandchildren, and all the future generations. 

The Maharsha explains that since the children will continuously teach the next generation what they had learned from their fathers, it can be traced all the way back to the father who first taught his son. Therefore, it is as if he taught all of those generations himself. 

This same principle applies to anyone who utilizes their resources and skills to teach others. When the student becomes a teacher and has students of his own, all the students’ successes are attributed to the first teacher. He was the original source that enabled all of their subsequent successes. If the teacher never made an effort or tried to teach that very first student, then none of future students would have had that knowledge or been able to succeed. 

Towards the end of Shaar Ahavat Hashem, the Chovot HaLevavot writes about this concept, and compares it to two merchants. One of them has a single item worth ten gold coins, while the other merchant has many different items worth a total of five thousand gold coins. Both sell their merchandise and earn a profit. The first merchant earns ten times the value of his item, while the second earns a lesser margin. Yet the latter’s profit is five thousand gold coins, far surpassing the hundred earned by the first. The difference lies in the scale of their initial investment. 

Similarly, if a Yid only focuses on his own personal development, then he is limited to be credited only for what he can achieve himself. However, if someone takes the time to help guide and educate others towards a righteous and just path, to observe Torah and mitzvot, then his merits are amplified, because he will receive credit for all the good deeds and behaviors done by those he influenced.   

The Power of Outreach 

This is particularly relevant to those who try and inspire others to do teshuva. Typically, Baalei Teshuva have the ability to influence others to follow in their path. 

R’ Tzvi Hirsch of Zhidachov explained that this is the meaning of Chazal’s teaching (Sanhedrin 99a), “In the place where the Baal Teshuva stands even the tzaddik cannot.” Since a Baal Teshuva has successfully returned himself, he has the unique opportunity to help inspire and influence others to abandon their wayward ways and return to a life of Torah and mitzvot like he did. 

We see this regularly. Baalei Teshuva typically help others along the same journey. 

I will share one example: A group of academics from the settlement of Karnei Shomron once visited with me specifically to express their gratitude for a visit we had made to their town a few weeks earlier. That visit had sparked a transformation, they told me, strengthening Yiddishkeit in their town. While there, I met two particularly rebellious boys. Everyone was worried about them. After our meeting, they had completely returned to a life of Torah and mitzvot. These boys who were once destructive were now inspiring the entire town! 

This idea should encourage parents, teachers, and those who invest in Jewish education and outreach. Every effort matters, and you cannot imagine the profound everlasting impact these efforts can have on generations. 

This concept helps explain our pasuk above: “And these are the generations of Yitzchak” refers to the converts whom Yitzchak brought closer to Hashem, following the example of his father, Avraham. They were considered as though Yitzchak himself gave birth to them. But the pasuk says of them that every one of them was also a “son of Avraham”. And the reason is, as the verse continues, “Avraham begot Yitzchak” signifying that all these outcomes are ultimately attributed to Avraham’s merit who was the original teacher. 

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The Kalever Rebbe is the seventh Rebbe of the Kaalov Chasidic dynasty, begun by his ancestor who was born to his previously childless parents after receiving a blessing from the Baal Shem Tov zy”a, and later learned under the Maggid of Mezeritch zt”l. The Rebbe has been involved in outreach for more than 30 years and writes weekly emails on understanding current issues through the Torah. Sign up at www.kaalov.org.