Page 34 - HaMizrachi #10 Yom Yerushalayim - Shavuot 5779
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TZURBA M’RABANAN • SHAVUOT LEARNING
According to the Shulchan Aruch, it seems that one should ideally combine Torah study together with earning a livelihood, but that Torah study
should always remain the primary focus. The Magen Avraham explains how one establishes one’s work as secondary and links this with the
opinion of Rabbi Yishmael as presented in the passage in Berachot:
a Magen Avraham, Orach Chaim 156:1 א:מגן אברהם | או”ח קנו1010
His work as primary – This means that he should work only for the “הרבה: ואמרינן בגמרא. שיעשה רק כדי פרנסתו:מלאכתו עיקר – פירוש
amount that is sufficient to earn a living. And we say in the Gemara: Many …” ועלתה בידן,עשו כרבי ישמעאל
have acted in accordance with Rabbi Yishmael and were successful…
However, the Machatzit HaShekel notes that the Maharsha explains that the reason Abaye said that many were successful when following
Rabbi Yishmael and many were unsuccessful when following Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai is because only those who are completely righteous can
merit to have their work done by others. Since such individuals are relatively few in number, everyone else must follow the approach of Rabbi
Yishmael in Berachot.
a Maharsha, Chidushei Aggadot, Berachot 35b : ברכות לה,מהרש”א | חידושי אגדות1111
Many have acted in accordance with Rabbi Yishmael, etc. – It seems , דוודאי יש צדיקים גמורים,“הרבה עשו כר’ ישמעאל וכו’” – נראה לפרש
that one can explain that there are certainly completely righteous ,דמקויים בהו שמלאכת עצמן נעשית ע”י אחרים אלא דמעטים המה
individuals for whom [the promise of] their work is performed by “ראיתי בני עלייה:):כדאמר רשב”י גופיה בפרק “לולב וערבה” (סוכה מה
others, but they are small [in number], as Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai
himself says in the chapter of Lulav V’arava (Sukka 45b): I have seen the וכיוון דמועטין הם,” אם אלף” כו’ “אם שניים הם – אני ובני.והם מועטים
men of elevation, and they are few. If a thousand [I and my son are among לפי, לומר ש”איני עושה מלאכה כלל, אין לכל אדם לסמוך על זה,כל כך
them], etc. if there are two, it is I and my son. And since there are so few, דשמא הוא טועה ואינו,” שצדיק גמור אני,שמלאכתי נעשית ע”י אחרים
not every person can rely on this to say that “I will not do any work, since דרוב,” “הרבה עשו כרבי ישמעאל – ועלתה בידן: וזה שאמרו.צדיק גמור
my work will be done by others, as I am one of the completely righteous,” לפי שרובם אינן,’ “והרבה עשו כרשב”י ולא” כו,עולם אינן צדיקים גמורים
as perhaps he is mistaken, and he is not completely righteous. ” “יפה תלמוד תורה עם דרך ארץ: וכמו ששנינו,צדיקים גמורים כרשב”י
And that which they said, “many acted in accordance with Rabbi שנאמר “ועמך כולם, אבל לעתיד.’כו’ “וכל תורה שאין עמה מלאכה” כו
Yishmael and were successful,” this is because most of the people .’ כא) וגו’ יקויים בנו “ועמדו זרים ורעו צאנכם” וגו,צדיקים” (ישעיהו ס
in the world are not completely righteous, and “many acted in
accordance with Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai and were not successful,” since most of them are not completely righteous like Rabbi Shimon bar
Yochai, as we have learned: Beautiful is the study of Torah with the way of the world, etc., and: Ultimately, all Torah study that is not accompanied with
work, etc. But in the future, as it says, “and your people are all righteous” (Yeshayahu 60:21), [the promise of] “and foreigners will stand up and
shepherd your sheep, etc.” will be fulfilled for us.
Full Time Torah Study
Although the Maharsha cautions against assuming that one is sufficiently righteous to receive the promise of Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai in Berachot,
the Rambam famously declares that anyone who wishes to dedicate his life exclusively to Torah study may do so and follow in the footsteps of the
tribe of Levi, whose primary purpose was to study and teach Torah to the rest of the Jewish people.
The Tzurba M’Rabanan series was authored by Rav Benzion Algazi, Rosh Yeshivat Hesder
Ramat Gan, and is currently studied weekly by over 20,000 people in Israel. The Manhgiut
Toranit Program is now translating this series into English, with added essays and footnotes.
The Selwyn and Ros Smith & Family Manhigut Toranit Program, in partnership with World
Mizrachi and Eretz Hemdah, trains and develops talmidei chachamim to serve communities
in the Diaspora and strengthen their connection to Torah and Medinat Yisrael. World Mizrachi
publishes and distributes Tzurba M’Rabanan worldwide.
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