HaRav Edelstein explaining his advice on chinuch
In advance of the upcoming annual Chinuch Conference in
Israel, HaRav Gershon Edelstein told a visiting delegation
about the basic principles of chinuch.
He said:
The most important thing is middos. This is the foundation.
This must be strengthened in conversations with the teacher,
and with the family, and then the children will be receptive
and they will transmit to the home what they heard in cheder
and in the yeshiva ketanos (high schools). We must always
keep in mind that the main thing is middos.
How do we imbue the students with good middos?
Together with emunah. And they should know that revenge is
forbidden. One who takes revenge loses out. Also the
motivation for revenge is based on a mistake since all comes
from Shomayim. One who understand the way the world works
knows that anything someone did to me is because min
haShomayim I deserve it.
Middos tovos are very important. To be happy in others'
success and accomplishments. To relate positively to someone
can be life saving. There was a well-known case in which a
bochur was not happy in his yeshiva and was ready to leave,
but then one Friday night, in the "Good Shabbos," someone
asked him how he was feeling — and everything changed.
If someone is interested in me I will stay in yeshiva!
