There is a story in Masechet Brachot about Rabban Gamliel who opened a Yeshiva after being temporarily removed as head of the Sanhedrin.

He had one requirement in order to be accepted as a student in his institution. He said that any student whose inside was like his outside, תוכו כברו, meaning that he was sincere and not a hypocrite, was allowed to study with him.

There was a שומר הפתח, a guard of the door, who filtered the appropriate students. Many hesitated coming to the Yeshiva for fear that they would not pass the test of being a person of total integrity.

When Rabban Gamliel recognized this, he removed the guard, and 400 benches were added to the study hall, as numerous students joined the Yeshiva. The question was asked how did this guard examine potential students. He was not a prophet. The answer given by the Rebbe of Sadigura was that there was no examination. There was only a lock on the entrance door. This was a test of perseverance for the diligent student. Would he find a way to enter despite the lock, as Hillel did when he listened to Torah from the skylight.

Rabban Gamliel saw that the number of such dedicated students was very small. He lifted his requirement and removed the lock. Hundreds of students came to study. The passion for Torah and the ingenuity of such students proved that תוכן כברו, their inside was like their outside.

It wasn’t the lock that kept them out. It was the lack of passion for Torah that did. Some passed the test but it was too difficult for most of the students.

Unfortunately, being genuine and totally honest is more of a rarity. The lesson learned here is that everyone needs to try to be that kind of person.

© The Times of Israel (Blogs)