"In the first pasuk of Emor it says twice to tell the Kohanim, Emor and V'Amarta. Rashi quotes the gemara in Yevamos that says the double language is, "L'Hazhir Gedolim Al HaKetanim", to tell the adults to caution the children. How do Chazal see this from the fact that is says twice to tell them, asks Rav Moshe Shmuel Shapiro?
He answers that the Dubno Magid once asked the Vilna Gaon what is the most effective way to influence children. The Vilna Gaon answered with a Mashal. He said to take a large cup and surround it with smaller cups. Then pour into the large cup and keep pouring until it spills over the top right into the little cups. To have children absorb the lessons, you must fill yourself with an overdose of whatever traits you want to teach them. They will become filled from the overflow. The Kohanim were implored twice, to give them a double measure of Kedushas Kohen. The reason for this is obviously in order for it to spill over to the children."
I once heard a lecture where the Rabbi related how he had seen a young boy whizzing through the davening. The young boy had finished shemoneh esrei while the Rabbi was still reciting the first few berachos. A few weeks later, the boy's father davened in the shul and the Rabbi was witness to his davening. It was then he understood where the boy had picked up his davening mannerisms. As the saying goes, "the apple doesn't fall far from the tree."
You're upset that your son doesn't pick up a sefer? Has he seen you engrossed in a sefer?
We can't just send our kids off to out-of-town yeshivas and seminaries, hoping they will instill the values in our children that we haven't imparted to them during their formative years. We have to set the example.
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