ואלה תולדות אהרן ומשה (במדבר ג:א)

Rashi explains: (שכל המלמד את בן חבירו תורה מעלה עליו הכתוב כאילו ילדו (סנהדרין יט — one who teaches another person’s child Torah is considered by the Torah as if he had given birth to him.

When the holy Divrei Chaim of Sanz zt”l served as Rav in Rudnik, Reb Eliezer Risher zt”l, who was orphaned by his father, once came to him dressed in a fine suit with his hands in his pockets.

The Divrei Chaim asked him gently, “What do you have in your pockets?”

The child replied with innocence, “My pockets are filled with sins and wrongdoings.”

The Rebbe was taken aback and asked him to explain. The child said: “I am different from other children who have not yet reached bar mitzvah, because their sins are counted on their fathers’ account. But since I don’t have a father, I carry my sins in my own pockets…”

Hearing this pure and heartfelt response, the holy Divrei Chaim was deeply moved and said to him with fatherly warmth: “From today on, I will be your father, and you will be my child.”