Once, a chossid whose children had reached the age to be educated set out to find a proper teacher for his sons.
Though it was suggested that he hire a certain individual, he refused, stating that the individual in question was not on par with the Chassidic standard that he sought for his children.
When the potential candidate heard of the refusal, he came to the father to voice his complaint, declaring:
“Though true that I am not yet a true chossid, it is self-understood that I will educate your children in the proper manner, for I too wish that my students grow to be authentic chassidim.”
Hearing this, the father replied:
“This itself is the essence of the problem. For, my children will learn to be like you. Meaning to say, that they too will wish that others should be chassidim. This will be the entire expression of their Chassidism.”
Our children learn from everything that we do. If we wish that our children grow to be true chassidim, we too must become authentic chassidim.
