Rabbi Chaim Sabato Explains How Parents Can Raise Torah Scholars Through Respect and Love

Rabbi Chaim Sabato, head of the Maale Adumim Yeshiva, addressed a common parental concern in his weekly lesson: how to raise children who become Torah scholars. He emphasized that the Talmud provides the answer, focusing not on educational methods but on the parents' own attitude toward Torah and Torah scholars. Citing the Talmud in Tractate Shabbat, Rabbi Sabato noted that those who love Torah scholars merit children who become Torah scholars, and those who honor them merit sons-in-law who are Torah scholars.

Rabbi Sabato stressed that the atmosphere in the home, shaped by parents' respect and love for Torah and its scholars, deeply influences children’s aspirations. He illustrated this with a story contrasting a Torah scholar who disparaged other scholars and a shoemaker who showed great reverence for rabbis and Torah books. The shoemaker’s children grew up aspiring to be Torah scholars, while the scholar’s children did not, demonstrating that children absorb their parents’ attitudes even before explicit education.

He concluded that the practical lesson from the Talmud is clear: loving and respecting Torah and its scholars leads to raising children who follow that path. This responsibility lies with the parents, who should avoid complaints about their children and instead cultivate a home environment filled with love for Torah. Rabbi Sabato also linked this to a broader message that both Torah scholars and laypeople must show mutual respect, as this shared reverence shapes the world in which children grow.