Lessons in Education from the Wrath of Elisha

In Kings II 5:25-26, the prophet Elisha rebukes his servant Gehazi for accepting gifts from an appreciative Naaman, the commander of the armies of Aram, who had just been cured by Elisha of his "leprosy" . As a result of his accepting this compensation, Elisha curses his servant:"Naaman's 'leprosy' shall therfore cleave to you and to your children forever".
The harshness of this curse is compared by the Rabbis, the teachers of the Oral Tradition, as pushing Gehazi away with both hands. From this episode they learned that in any relationship, especially the relationship between a teacher and a student, there should be two opposite forces at work. The left hand should be pushing away and the right hand bringing closer. However, it must first be the left pushing away creating a space of mutual respect between the two parties, before there can be a coming together and affection.
Why is distance and mutual respect a necessary first step in any relationship? Because a productive relationship involves an exchange between two individuals. In order to be a proper receptacle to receive from the other person, I must have respect and even adulation for them. And then only after I have learned from them, can I strive to come closer to them by working to assimilate their perspective into my own life.

Finally, once I have assimilated their approach and adopted their ways into my life, I can come to live with them very intimately in that I a am able to look at the world through their eyes.  This is what is described as receiving the mind-consciousness of one's teacher.

When it comes to most people, though, especially children, one cannot initiate a relationship with distance. Rather, there has to be a stage where affection and closeness are exhibited at the start of the relationship arousing the desire in both individuals to start relating to each other in a more personal way. Only then can distance and mutual respect be introduced into the relationship. This why the Talmud tells us that Rava, one of the top educators and Jewish leaders in Talmudic times (100-200 ACE) would begin his classes with a joke.

The joke would cause the students to laugh but then they would also be ready to receive the teachings
of their master. The process of receiving, assimilation and mind consciousness of one's teacher is parallel to that of impreganation, gestation and the giving birth. Also historically, this is the process described by the Children of Israel leaving Egypt, traveling to Mt. Sinai in the desert and finally receiving the Torah.  This is also paralleled in the three names of the holiday of Passover: the Holiday of Matzot, the Time of our Freedom, and Passover.

Based on the Talks of the Lubavitcher Rebbe.