Check out this site: Follow The Rabbi
In Jesus’ day, every decent rabbi had at least one disciple. Some had a lot more. Jesus had several hundred.
To become a rabbi's disciple you had to prove that you were worthy by memorizing most of the scriptures and studying rabbinical writings enough to satisfy the rabbi's questions in a sort of interview. Once you were accepted by a rabbi you followed him around and watched his every move so that you could be just like him. They would pronounce a blessing over you which said, in essence, "May you be covered by the dust of your rabbi." In other words, may you follow your rabbi so closely that you are covered in the dust that his sandals kicked up.
