תלמוד בבלי ברכות סב' א'
תניא אמר רבי עקיבא פעם אחת נכנסתי אחר ר' יהושע לבית הכסא ולמדתי ממנו ג' דברים למדתי שאין נפנין מזרח ומערב אלא צפון ודרום ולמדתי שאין נפרעין מעומד אלא מיושב ולמדתי שאין מקנחין בימין אלא בשמאל אמר ליה בן עזאי עד כאן העזת פניך ברבך א"ל תורה היא וללמוד אני צריך...
רב כהנא על גנא תותיה פורייה דרב שמעיה דשח ושחק ועשה צרכיו אמר ליה דמי פומיה דאבא כדלא שריף תבשילא א"ל כהנא הכא את פוק דלאו אורח ארעא אמר לו תורה היא וללמוד אני צריך
Talmud Bavli Berakhot 62a
It has been taught in a baraita: Rabbi Akiva said, I once entered after R. Yehoshua into the latrine and I learned 3 things from him. I learned that we do not [defecate while] facing East or West, but only North or South. I learned that we do not expose ourselves while standing but only while seated. And I learned that we do not wipe ourselves with the right hand but only with the left hand. Ben Azzai said to Akiva, did you really act so brazenly toward your teacher!? Rabbi Akiva said to him, [his behavior] is Torah and I must study it...
Rav Kahana came and lay under the bed of Rav. He heard how Rav [first] spoke [with his wife], and then laughed [with her] and [only then] attended to his marital needs. [From under the bed], he said, Abba's mouth is like one that has not swallowed food! [Rav] said to him, Kahana are you here?! Go out, for it is not proper! [R. Kahana] said to him, your behavior is Torah and I must study it.
1. Why do the rabbis desire to see their masters in personal situations?
2. Does the Talmud think the rabbis' private lives are fair game for their students or do they cross the line?
3. How does this apply to our role as contemporary Reform rabbis? Is there a difference since we don't legislate halakha in our communities?
4. What in our lives is considered "Torah" to be studied and what is off limits?