Date: Tue 10/19/2004 3:02 AM
Random Thought: Meaning and Purpose in Teaching

Three students once came to the famous rabbi, Bal Shem Tov, and he asked them, "What would you do if you knew you would die in six months"

The first student said, "I would go to Jerusalem to the Wailing Wall and pray continuously." The second one said, "No. The journey would waste valuable time. I would go to my room and begin to pray continuously."

The third remained silent and the first two assumed he had nothing to say. But, when questioned by the Rabbi, the third said, "Why I would continue with my job and my normal daily schedule.

So the Rabbi said, "This third answer is best, for if we cannot find holiness and meaning in our moment to moment daily existence we shall not find it in Jerusalem or anywhere."

That's how I feel about teaching.