"When one hears a lesson from one who he favors, he listens differently."
HaRav Moshe Hillel began his speech as follows:
We are discussing the bond between student and master and the question arises: why must the Rav be familiar with each student?
He concretized his point through a true incident. "I know this story firsthand. At the end of a study 'zman', I asked a certain student how he felt about it.
He replied: 'It was terrible. In fact, very, very bad. I hardly learned anything.'
I then asked those appointed over the students, the meshivim, why they did not report such a thing. Had not this student and his chavrusa come to him to discuss many aspects of their study?
And he explained:
We eventually realized that this particular student was slow in comprehending, slower than his study partner. The meshivim delivered their lesson at the level of the more astute student, leaving his partner at a great loss. At the end of the study term, he really had not absorbed anything.
This can easily happen at the end of a single shiur. The lesson is delivered without the teacher being aware that he was not understood and that the student had not gained anything whatsoever. The maggid shiur was progressing too fast and too much in depth without realizing that it was beyond the intellect of the student and for him, the lesson was all in vain.
If a maggid shiur knows the student, discusses the subject with him and realizes that he is slow, he will look at him during his delivery to see if he is absorbing and enjoying it. This is the very crux goal of the lesson. This can only come if the teacher knows the student and has rapport with him.
HaRav Moshe Hillel expanded on this and stressed:
There is another aspect about the bond between teacher and student. When a maggid shiur delivers his lesson, explaining the different commentaries upon it, he must realize that every student has a different level and capacity of absorbing it. He can state that the Ramban says this while the Rashbo differs. And then he can quote a different Ramban which leans with one of the sides.
By this time, he may have lost the student's attention and concentration. If the lecturer knows the student and is aware of this, he can tell him to look it up himself and at this point, assure him that this is sufficient for him to understand and he need not focus on what is being said further.
Regarding fondness towards the student, HaRav Moshe Hillel says:
It is important to like the student. Fondness towards a student is reflected back from the student to the teacher. And when he listens to a shiur from a teacher whom he likes, the listening is different. The listening becomes more acute. Furthermore, if the student has a problem, he finds it easier to approach his teacher, knowing that the latter has affection for him.
Regarding the importance of a personal example, he said:
It is known that the best instruction is emulation, that is, to make the teacher a role model — to note how he davens and how he finds satisfaction and sheer enjoyment in his study.
He brought two examples from Torah leaders.
I remember hearing a description of HaRav Moshe Shmuel Shapiro zt"l delivering a shiur. He was suffused with enthusiasm and vitality which reflected and expressed his love for Torah and his sheer enjoyment in studying it. This love indeed inspired his listeners and infected the student who described it to me with similar love and bonding to Torah.
I also recall my years in Lakewood yeshiva. I spoke to a student who apparently could not follow the depth of HaRav Aharon Kotler's shiurim. However, he said to me, 'I know that Rav Aharon loved me.' And this is what caused him to remain cleaving to Torah for the rest of his life.
In conclusion, HaRav Moshe Hillel noted,
First of all, a Rav should connect to his student and gauge his level in study. Second, if there exists an affectionate bonding between rebbe and student, the latter is capable of integrating more of the study material and will find it easier to approach him to ask questions. This also includes the aspect of emulation for the revered person.
In general, all of these things are important in cultivating a trong rapport between the two. We must continue to be aware that today, thankfully, there are many students per each level which makes the task almost impossible. Nevertheless, we must try our utmost to achieve this and pray that Hashem shower His Heavenly assistance in enabling each one to achieve his maximum.
