Emet / Truth
Working for a living 5
posted Monday, 25 December 2006
"Facing Current Challenges" by R'Yehuda Levi is an absolutely fantastic sefer which I recommend that everyone buy and read. His breadth and depth of knowledge in all aspects of Torah is simply phenomenal. The topics covered range from Jewish Nationalism to Ecology to Chinuch. One can read a book review by R'YGB here.
There is a whole series of essays on the topic of working for a living. Below are some extracts that I think highlight some pertinent themes and ideas that require thought and analysis:
Essay 29: Torah and Livelihood (pg 205)
Two hundred years ago the author of Sefer Heberith [1] expressed himself in the strongest terms concerning the common misinterpretation of R.Nehorai statement:
Fathers do this [i.e., teach their sons nothing but Torah] for the sake of Heaven, relying on the words of R. Nehoria, "I set aside every trade in the world and teach my son only Torah.[2]" They do not understand that this practice originates in the yetzer hara' [the evil inclination], whose way is to clothe things that are not good in the garb of piety. The yetzer will dress up any crime with love and fear of God and make it appear to be for the sake of Heaven. They do not realize that this is not R. Nehorai's opinion at all, as the Maharsha[3] has written.
In the same chapter of Sefer Heberith the author exaplins that “the cornerstone and foundation” of Divine service is “to have a craft by which to earn a living through ones own efforts, and not to need the support of other people”. He goes on to say:
I am distressed by the arrogant practice which has taken hold these days, according to which most of our people refuse to teach their sons a trade, arrogantly and haughtily claiming that trades are a disgrace to us... I am even angrier at Torah scholars who refuse to teach their sons a trade, only Torah, on the assumption that their sons will be rabbis and judges, for not many become so wise in Torah as to [be competent to] render decisions for the Jewish people. Instead they remain lacking in both [Torah and a trade]. There is no doubt that anyone who transgresses the words of our Sages in this matter and does not teach his son a trade will have to account for it before the Heavenly court and will surely be punished
The author of Sedey Chemed thought so highly of these remarks that he copied the entire chapter into his book [4][1] Update: Sefer HaBrit - Rabbi Pinchas Eliyahu of Vilna: First printed in 1797. A compendium of the scientific knowledge of the time (astronomy, geography, physics, chemistry, biology, etc.) together with a presentation of the kabbalistic worldview {Thanks to Shy Guy for that information}
[2] Mishna Kiddushin 4:14
[3] Maharsha on Kiddushin 82A: “R.Nehorai.. certainly does not dissent, for everyone must learn a trade; rather, his words may be interpreted thus: “I put aside teaching a trade as a fixed occupation, and I teach Torah by a fixed schedule and a trade when I find the time”
[4] Sedey Chemed, Kelalim, Alef #230, Peiath Sadeh, ibid. #160
comments (4)
1. Shy Guy left...
Monday, 25 December 2006 11:01 pm
Can you please tell me who is the publisher of the Hebrew version of Prof.
Levi's book "Mul Etgarey HaTekufah"?
2. Shy Guy left...
Tuesday, 26 December 2006 1:47 am
<a href="http://nehora.com/moreinfo.cfm?Product_ID=825&CFID=3&CFTOKEN=58
437687"><u>Sefer Ha'Brit</a>, by Rav Pinchas Eliyahu of
Vilna.
3. Rael Levinsohn left...
Tuesday, 26 December 2006 8:55 am :: http://www.emet.blog-city.com/
Shy Guy, thanks for the info about Sefer HaBrit, I am going to update my
blog with that information.
4. Shy Guy left...
Tuesday, 26 December 2006 4:51 pm
Rael, here are the main section titles: