It all starts with a verse from Ecclesiastes (10:10): “If the iron is dull, and one did not whet the edge, he must intensify his exertion; the advantage is in preparation with wisdom.”
Now, on the surface, this seems like simple advice: sharpen your tools! But as is often the case in Jewish tradition, there are layers upon layers of meaning waiting to be uncovered.
The Rabbis of the Midrash see this verse as a commentary on the vital relationship between teacher and student. What happens, they ask, if the "iron," the teacher's face, is dull toward the student – meaning, the teacher isn't engaged or interested in putting in the effort to explain the material? And what if the teacher doesn't show the student a friendly countenance, doesn't offer that spark of connection? According to the Midrash, the result is kilkul – a deterioration in the actions of the student.
So, what's the remedy? "He must intensify his exertion," the verse tells us. The Midrash interprets this in a surprising way: the student should bring ten people to appease the teacher! Why? Because ultimately, this will lead to "much preparation for wisdom." It's about creating the right environment, fostering connection, and clearing the path for learning.
But the Rabbis don't stop there. They flip the script! What if the student's face is dull toward the teacher? Proverbs 27:17 tells us "Iron sharpens iron; so a man sharpens the countenance of his friend." The teacher, too, can be sharpened by the questions and insights of the student. But if the student is unresponsive, uninsightful, the same kilkul, the same deterioration, occurs. Again, the solution is to bring people to appease the teacher, to bridge that gap. "The advantage is in preparation with wisdom," meaning that ultimately, the teacher will relinquish their anger and enable the student to succeed.
It's a powerful reminder that learning is a two-way street, a dynamic interaction. Both parties need to be engaged, present, and willing to work at the relationship for true understanding to blossom.
The Midrash then takes a fascinating turn, moving beyond the teacher-student dynamic to address individual study. What happens, they ask, if your own studies become dull, like iron? If your teacher isn't around to explain things, you must overcome this challenge with your own ability. As the Etz Yosef commentary explains, even if your teacher is no longer alive and you have unresolved questions, you must work hard to figure out the answers on your own.
The story of Rabbi Shimon ben Yoḥai's student illustrates this point beautifully. This student had forgotten his studies and, in his distress, cried at a cemetery. He was shown a dream instructing him to throw three pebbles, after which he would remember his learning. An interpreter of dreams told him that the pebbles represented reciting his studies three times. He did so, and it worked! The Matnot Kehuna commentary explains that reciting something three times helps you remember it.
Finally, the Midrash broadens the scope even further, applying the verse to the relationship between God and the Jewish people. Rabbi Berekhya says that if the nation, whose strength is compared to iron (Deuteronomy 4:20), becomes dull, and God is not forthcoming, then there are evil deeds in the generation. The solution? Decree fasts, and God will grant forgiveness. Similarly, Rabbi Ḥama bar Pappa, in the name of Rabbi Yehuda ben Rabbi Simon, says that if the skies become like iron, meaning there's no rain (as stated in Leviticus 26:19), and God is not forthcoming, then there are corrupt actions in the generation. Again, the solution is to decree a fast, and God will provide relief.
So, what's the takeaway from all of this? This verse from Ecclesiastes, seemingly simple on the surface, holds profound wisdom about the importance of connection, engagement, and effort in all aspects of life. Whether it's the relationship between teacher and student, the individual's pursuit of knowledge, or the connection between humanity and the Divine, we must always strive to "whet the edge," to sharpen our focus and intensify our exertion. And when things get dull, when we feel disconnected or uninspired, we must find ways to rekindle the spark, to create the conditions for growth and understanding. Because ultimately, the advantage is in preparation with wisdom.