then, should he guard his sons’ and daughters’ minds, lest they sin toward He who
created the world; thus, he should be more concerned lest they sin in their deeds,
their bodies, and their thoughts. Witness^42 how many fasts and abstentions and
cries and pleas a person performs when his son falls ill, because his soul is con-
cerned for the body of his son. He should certainly do at least as much if he [his
son] sins, for the well being of the soul is eternal.^43 Hence, he should take guard
lest they sin in their deeds, bodies, or thoughts, for it says: “For Job thought, ‘Per-
haps my children have sinned and blasphemed God in their thoughts’ (Job
1:5).”^44This admonition is directed to fathers. Women’s love for their children is seen
as natural, perhaps like the love of a female dog toward her pups. In contrast,
the emphasis here seems to be on fathers’ love for their children at an age in
which they should fear God, but may stray outside in the dark and think harm-
ful thoughts. Medieval Christian preachers suggested similar ideas, encourag-
ing their listeners to foster spiritual love and not love that resembles the love
of animals for their offspring.^45
The same idea is expressed in a case that is, in many ways, exceptional. Sefer
H·asidim brings the case of a dying father, discussing the future of his children,
who would become orphans upon his death:
A man was very ill. When he cried, they said to him: “Why are you crying? If it is
for your little children, your brothers will take your place.” He said: “My brothers
will take care of their worldly needs. I am only crying, because, had I lived, I would
have reproached them and tormented them so that they could attain the world to
come, by teaching them and directing them in the path of righteousness.” The
guardian he appointed for his son said: “I will replace you [be under you], and
serve in your position.”
He said to him: “No. Serve, rather, to replace me [be under me], but from your
ownposition—[that is], if they were to cause you sorrow or steal from you, you
would beat them so they do so no more. Thus, you will be in the place of their
maker: Educate them to perform the commandments, and if they sin toward the
Creator, torment them and don’t say, ‘How can I hit an orphan?’ Rather, if they
say: ‘If our father were alive, he would have pity on us and would not allow us to
be beaten,’ tell them: ‘[Your father] would have hit you even more. It is he who
commanded me to torment you... and they will be loyal like a dog, for a dog is
beaten and he is loyal to his master, because he gives him food. So do to my chil-
dren. Give my sons food, and let your fear be upon them when they sin, and show
them love when they do the will of the Creator, as you command them.’”^46The responsibility this father wants his friend to take upon himself as guardian
is a harsh one. He does not discuss his children’s physical welfare at all. He is
concerned solely with the children’s piety. This father sees himself as solely in