Citazione Commento su II Re 2:12

"Our ancestors" — Meaning our teachers, who are called "fathers," as it says (2 Kings 2:12), "Elisha called out to Elijah, 'My father, my father,'" because he was his teacher. And in the Moed Katan 26, it says: "Father — this refers to one’s teacher who taught him wisdom."

Upon Eliyahu HaNavi’s ascent to Shamayim, Elisha famously screams, “Avi, Avi Rechev Yisrael UFarashav,” “my father, my father, Israel’s chariot and horsemen” (Melachim II 2:12). It is readily understood why Elisha refers to Eliyahu HaNavi as a father figure. Chazal (cited by Rashi to Devarim 6:7 s.v. LeVanecha) cite this Pasuk as an example of how the Rebbe-student relationship is compared to a father-child relationship. Indeed, the Mishnah (Bava Metzia 2:11) describes a father as bringing one into this world and the Rebbe as one who brings his student into Olam HaBa.¹⁶⁶See Jachter, Rabbi Chaim. “Hespeid for Mori VeRabi HaRav Aharon Lichtenstein Zt‘l – Part Two.” Kol Torah, Torah Academy of Bergen County, 2015, www.koltorah.org/halachah/hespeid-for-mori-verabi-harav-aharon-lichtenstein-ztl-part-two-by-rabbi-chaim-jachter, where we eulogize Rabbi Aharon Lichtenstein as a powerful father figure for his students.

לבניך [AND THOU SHALT TEACH THEM DILIGENTLY] UNTO THY CHILDREN — These are the disciples. Everywhere do we find that disciples are termed בנים, as it is said, (Deuteronomy 14:1) “Ye are children (בנים) of the Lord your God”; and it says, (2 Kings 2:3), “The sons of (בני) the prophets who were in Bethel”. So. too, do we find in the case of Hezekiah that he taught Torah to all Israel and termed them בנים, as it is said, (II Chronicles 29:11), “My sons (בני) be not now negligent". And even as disciples are termed בנים, “children", so the teacher is termed אב, "father", as it is said, (2 Kings 2:12) that Elisha referred to his teacher Elijah by the words, "My father, my father, the chariot of Israel, etc." (Sifrei Devarim 34:4).

שאל אביך ASK THY FATHER — these are the prophets who are termed fathers, as it is stated in the history of Elijah that Elisha exclaimed when Elijah departed, (2 Kings 2:12): “My father, my father, the chariot of Israel!” (cf. Sifrei Devarim 310:3).

And who is their father? Why do you wonder about the matter as to who is the father of the prophets? Is prophecy hereditary?⁶Or וּמִי אֲבִיהֶם can mean “Who is their teacher?” for one’s teacher is called his father as in II Melachim 2:12. He implied to the people that ‘ה is their teacher and just as He teaches the other prophets, He can teach Shaul too.—Radak