Ask The Rabbi...
December 12, 1993 Issue #3

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This edition contains:
1.  What is this list and how to submit to it.
2.  How can people justify studying Torah all the time.

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"Ask The Rabbi" is a newsletter that answers questions you've always had 
about Judaism or Jewish practice but never had a chance to ask.   Selected 
questions from our readers will be chosen and answered by a certified Rabbi 
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Confused from Jerusalem asks:

>Dear Rabbi,
>
>I was told that according to Jewish law a person must work for a living.  
>If so, how do those people who only study Torah all day justify their 
>lifestyles?

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Dear Confused,

At first glance it seems that what you were told is correct.  Maimonides 
paints a grim picture for one who relies on charity to support full-time 
Torah study.

   "Anyone who decides to study Torah and not work, making his living from
   charity, desecrates Hashem's name , disgraces the Torah ...and any Torah
   that is not accompanied by work will lead to it's own undoing and cause
   sin....

However, in a different statement, Maimonides appears to contradict 
himself.  He teaches the Tribe of Levi has a special dispensation from 
earning a living from their own labor, and he adds:

   "And not only the Tribe of Levi, but any person whose spirit moves him
   to separate himself and stand before Hashem, to serve Him in order to
   know Him...behold he has become sanctified as the Holy of Holies, and
   Hashem becomes his portion, his inheritance for ever. And He will
   provide his basic necessities for him in this world, as with the Kohanim
   and Levi'im..."

The "Brisker Rav" resolves this apparent contradiction by suggesting that 
these are the two lifestyles that the Talmud teaches:

   Rabbi Yishmael emphasizes the verse "And you shall gather your grain"
   that the study of Torah is to be accompanied by earning a livelihood.
   Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai, however, contends that "when Israel does the
   Will of Hashem, others will do her work..." The Sage Abaye concludes
   that "many did like Rav Yishmael and succeeded; as Rabbi Shimon bar
   Yochai, and did not succeed."

The Brisker Rav explains that Abaye is saying to choose your own path -- 
but Rabbi Yishmael's is the path for the masses.  Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai's 
approach "works" for only a few, determined individuals.  The first 
statement of Maimonides is directed toward the masses.  The average 
person's commitment will not stand up to the demand of full-time Torah.  
The second statement is relevant to the individual who is able to fulfill 
such a commitment.

Rabbi Moshe Isserlis (Rama) quotes Maimonides' first statement, that 
encourages earning a livelihood.  He notes, however, that there are 
dissenting views, and that their opinion is the one that "all places in 
Israel" have adopted.

Rabbi Israel Meir Kagen (Chofetz Chaim) rules that even the Rambam would 
agree that nowadays one may learn full-time., since it is so difficult for 
someone to simultaneously devote himself to a livelihood and also master 
the Torah.

Sources:

o  Maimonides, "Yad Hachazaka", Talmud Torah, 3:10.
o  Ibid., Laws of Shemita and Yovel, 13:13.
o  Rabbi Yitzchak Ze'ev Soloveichik (Brisker Rav), "Maran R.Y.Z. on the
   Torah", Parshat Chayei Sarah.
o  Talmud, Tractate Brachot 35b.
o  Shulchan Aruch, Laws of Talmud Torah, 246:21.
o  Rabbi Israel Meir Kagen (Chofetz Chaim), "Mishna Brura", Laws of Brachot
   231:1 (in the Biur Halacha).
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