Melamed

Melamed, Melammed (Hebrew: מלמד‎‎, Teacher) is a term which in Biblical times denoted a religious teacher or instructor in general (e.g., in Ps. cxix. 99 and Prov. v. 13), but which in the Talmudic period was applied especially to a teacher of children, and was almost invariably followed by the word "tinokot" (children; B. B. 21a). The Aramean equivalent was "makre dardeke" (ib.).

The melamed was appointed by the community, and there were special regulations determining how many children he might teach, as well as rules governing the choice of applicants for the office and the dismissal of a melamed (ib.). These regulations were extended and augmented in the post-Talmudic period.

Besides the teachers appointed by the community, there were others who were privately engaged by the parents of children; hence it became necessary to define accurately the mutual rights and duties of the melamed and of the parents.

While giving instruction, the melamed was not allowed to do any other work (Shulchan Aruch, Choshen Hamishpat, 333, 5). If he was ill, and therefore unable to teach for a time, as much was deducted from his wages as the lessons for that time would have cost (ib.); but if, on the other hand, the pupil was ill and could not take his lessons, the melamed received full payment (ib. 335, 1).

The melamed was not allowed to punish his pupils too severely; and he had to teach both in the daytime and during part of the night (Shulchan Aruch, Yoreh De'ah, 245, 10-11). He might not leave his pupils alone, nor neglect his duties; and he was required to be pious and to understand his vocation (ib. 245, 17). Only a married man might be a melamed (ib. 245, 20-21). In addition to these regulations, many others concerning the melamed are given in Yoreh De'ah (l.c. and 246), as well as in Hoshen Mishpat. (l.c.), but some of them are not observed at present.

The salary for a melamed was low, more often than not. Many melameds lived a very poor life.

A distinction was made between the village melamed, who was engaged as a private tutor by a Jew living in a village, and one who teaches the child in the house of its parents, and the melamed in a town, who teaches in his own home, which serves at the same time as a schoolroom (see cheder).

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