Following are excerpts from the address of HaRav Shteinman shlita to a special gathering of hundreds of roshei yeshiva and mechanchim to address the many burning issues in chinuch in Eretz Yisroel.
To this day we know that the secret of chinuch is especially known to those who fear Hashem; only they know how to rear children in the path of Hashem, as has been handed down through the generations, but the rest don't even know what education is all about. What do they instill in their children? They are swift to anger. Is that what they teach them? To practice anger? They are arrogant. Is that what they teach them — arrogance? What will they teach their children? To live a hedonistic life without meaning? Does one need education for that? Even without such `education', the children will grow up like that. But we need to know that the secret of education lies in what was transmitted to us by our ancestors in all generations.
The Dubnow Maggid once asked the Gaon of Vilna how he could have an impact upon the public. He was answered with a parable of a man who had a large goblet of wine surrounded by small goblets. So long as the large central cup was not filled, it could not overflow to the smaller ones. Similarly, if someone wishes to influence others [for the good], he must be full himself. If he is replete with good character traits and with Torah, then he can exert influence. But if not, he cannot have an impact since nothing can flow from him to lesser people.
This applies to our generation as well. If we wish to see the younger generation following the Torah path, we must have an influence on them by seeing to it that each individual [teaching them] be filled with Torah and derech eretz to be emulated. This is the method embraced by Klal Yisroel throughout the ages, from Avraham Ovinu up to this very day. Past generations always knew that they must be replete with Torah, intelligence and derech eretz. Only thus can one serve as an example to be followed.
Let us hope that it will continue thus to the end of time. May Hashem help us reach the state where "the whole world be filled with wisdom of Hashem like water that fills the sea," and then may we merit seeing the true Redemption, speedily and in our days. Amen.
