Joodse traditie als permanent leren

199.

way, and on this account they do not understand, then it is his duty to show anger and to shame them with his words in order to spur them on. This is what the Rabbis meant when they said, "Scatter gall on your students". For this reason, also, the teacher may not indulge in frivolity in the presence of his students, nor play in their presence, nor eat and drink with them, so that he may preserve his dignity and the respect they owe him, and they may learn the more quickly. 246, 12. One may not ask questions of the teacher the moment he enters the House of Learning, before he has had time to settle down. Nor should a student ask a question immediately on his own entry, before he has had time to settle down. In order not to embarrass the teacher, two should not ask questions at the same time, nor should questions be asked except in connection with the subject of study. The teacher may mislead his students through catch questions or through other means, in order to sharpen their wits and to test whether they remember what they learn. It is hardly necessary to add that in order to stimulate them he may ask them questions about some subject other than that which they are studying at the time.

246, 13. One should not ask a question while standing, nor should one answer standing, nor from a height, nor from a distance, nor from behind the teacher.

Some say that a question of ritual law must be asked standing.

The question must be to the point, and must be asked in earnest. One should not ask more than three questions on the one subject. 246, 14. When two questions are asked at the same time, one being to the point and the other not so, preference is given to the question to the point. If of two questions, one has practical bearing and the other is only theoretical, preference is given to the question with practical bearing. Of two questions, one of which refers to a point of law and the other to a point of interpre tation, preference is given to the question referring to a point of law. Of two questions, one referring to interpretation and the other to Aggadah, preference is given to the question about the point of interpretation. Of two questions, one dealing with Aggadah and the other with a deduction a fortiori, the preference is given to the question about the deduction a fortiori. Of two questions, one concerning a deduction a fortiori and the other an inference from similarity of phrases, preference