The Oral Talmud with Benay Lappe and Dan Libenson Episode 103

The Gemara raises an objection from a baraita: If a member of a courtyard wishes to become a mohel, a bloodletter, a weaver, or a teacher of children, the other members of the courtyard can prevent him. What case are we dealing with here? With gentile children.

Come and hear another baraita: With regard to two people who are residing in one courtyard, if one of them sought to become a mohel, a bloodletter, a weaver, or a teacher of children, the other can prevent him. Here too, with gentile children.

Come and hear another baraita: One who has a house in a jointly owned courtyard may not rent it to a mohel, nor to a bloodletter, nor to a weaver, nor to a Jewish teacher, nor to a gentile teacher. What specific case are we dealing with here? With the town teacher.

Rava said: From the time of the ordinance of Yehoshua ben Gamla (that schoolteachers must be established in each town), and onward, we may not send a child from one town to another. But we may send them from one house-of-gathering to another house-of-gathering. And if a river separates the areas, we may not send the children across. But if there is a bridge, we may send them across. But if there is only a narrow bridge [gamla], we do not send them.

Rav Yehuda says that Rav says: Truly, remember that man for the good, and Yehoshua ben Gamla is his name. Because, if not for him, the Torah would have been forgotten from the Jewish people since, at first, whoever had a father -- he would teach him Torah; and whoever did not have a father, would not learn Torah. Mai drush? What was their drash? “And you shall teach them [otam] to your sons” (Deuteronomy 11:19) -- which they took to mean: And you yourselves [atem] shall teach. They (the Sages) legislated that teachers of children should be appointed in Jerusalem. Mai drush? What was their drash? “For Torah emerges from Zion (and the word of God from Jerusalem)” (Isaiah 2:3). But still, whoever had a father -- he would go up with him to Jerusalem and have him taught; whoever did not have a father -- he did not ascend and learn. They legislated that teachers should be established in each and every region [pelekh]. And they brought the students in at the age of sixteen or seventeen. But one whose teacher grew angry with him, he would rebel against him and leave. Until Yehoshua ben Gamla came and legislated that teachers of children should be appointed in each and every province and in each and every town, and they would bring the children in to learn at the age of six or seven.

Rav said to Rav Shmuel bar Sheilat: Do not accept a student before the age of six. From this point forward, accept him and stuff him like an ox. And Rav further said to Rav Shmuel bar Sheilat: When you strike a child, hit him only with the strap of a sandal. Rav also said: He who reads, let him read; whoever does not read, let him be a companion to his friends.