45- Sons of Wise Disciples

Our sages said, “Why are the sons of wise disciples not wise disciples? It is because they did not bless in the Torah first” (Nedarim 81b).

A wise disciple is one who learns Torah. “Their sons” are the offshoots born to them after the learning. Not blessing in the Torah first means that they did not give thanks in the beginning. That is, before they began to learn, they did not give thanks that they were given a desire to learn, for even for this one should be thankful, and by learning and understanding something, he gives greater thanks.

But one who is not thankful for the desire he was given to come to the seminary, it means that he does not appreciate the whole matter.