Learning Torah and earning money. How much of each?

How much learning? How much earning?

Dovid Eidensohn

See Berochose 35b an argument between Rabbi Yishmael and Rabbi Shimon bar Yochoi. Rabbi Yishmael maintains that a Jew must work a full day to sustain a livelihood. Rabbi Shimon bar Yochoi disagrees, because if so, nobody will master the Torah. Rabbi Shimon bar Yochoi counters that a Jew should study Torah essentially and not work, but that others will work for him. The problem with this is that Rabbi Shimon bar Yochoi was running away from the Romans who wanted to kill him, and the Romans would surely not feed him. So it makes sense to accept the gemora there that “many did as Rabbi Yishmael and succeeded” meaning that others did not succeed. Okay, we seem to be getting somewhere. But wait. There are two gemoras that blow everything to pieces.

Sota 44A says that Derech Erets teaches us that a man should build his house, plant a vineyard, and only then marry. In other words, he should not marry until he is wealthy and has enough money to be comfortable and supply the needs of his wife and children. The Zohar adds that one who marries without a house and vineyard is a Tipashe, a fool. Also, the gemora in Hurius 10b says that Rabbi Yochanan decreed that Torah scholars need the money to be comfortable or some wealth.

This brings us to a terrible question. If a person has to spend most of his life learning Torah and only a small portion to earn a living, when does he become wealthy? Indeed, the gemora Berochose 35b rules that people do have to work hard during the day, meaning, not so much learning. This contradicts the Shulchan Aruch Orach Chaim 156.1 that every Jew must learn most of the day and only a small part of the time for his earnings. This is not the opinion of Rabbi Yishmael, the dominant opinion and is not the opinion of Rabbi Shimon bar Yochoi, who says that strangers will support the learners, at a time when the Romans were searching for Rabbi Shimon to kill him. Surely they did not support him. Indeed, Rabbi Yochanan says in gemora Shabbos 11a that the law is not like Rabbi Shimon bar Yochoi but like Rabbi Yishmael. If so, how can we manage enough money to marry? Something has to give? Either Rabbi Yishmael is wrong, or Rabbi Shomon bar Yochoi is wrong, or no Jew gets married other than a few rich ones. This is surely wrong. This bothered me for a long time, especially as I didn’t find anyone else who asked these questions.

But the rule is, that when somebody gets stuck when he studies Torah, and he gives all he could to understand, HaShem helps him. The Vilna Gaon even suggests that there are questions on the Torah that seem to block all logic. But within these questions are the secrets of the Torah. I believe that this idea is the first word in the Torah, Beraishis, which, as Rashi says there, is a word missing a key word. In the beginning of what did HaShem create the heaven and the earth? Whatever we do, that word is missing. I believe the missing word is that there are things about heaven and earth that are beyond human understanding, but can only be revealed by HaShem to those who study Torah. And that is the key to all of the Torah and all of the gemoras. They are all riddled with questions. But if we struggle and ask HaShem’s help, we will find answers.

My answer is that children must be trained by the father to learn Torah most of the day but to also spend some time of the day to earn money. I actually wrote a treatise about a fictional boy, Shimi, who, at the age of five, was approached by his father. “Shimi,” he said, “you are a smart little boy, and you are learning nicely in Hebrew school. Yes, it is crucial for a Jew to study Torah. But we need money also. Yes, most of the day you will study Torah, and yet, a Jew needs money also. Would you like to earn some money even now?” Shimi was very interested in what his father was saying, and earning money, why not, sure!

Shimi’s father said, “Next time you go to Hebrew school, bring along some nice fruit from our farm, and trade it with your friends, who surely bring their own fruit to school.” Shimi did it, and he returned with some of his friends’ fruit. “Fine” said his father. “Let’s keep this up for a while, okay? You’re doing so well, that I think  you are a real business person!” Shimi puffed up his small cheek, and just swallowed in the compliments. The main thing, however, was the hope that more was to come. His father had talked about him earning money. Now, that was something special.

The time came when Shimi’s father told him, “Come with me.” They went a few blocks, and Shimi knew exactly where they were. This was the home of Shimi’s father’s best friend. “Here,” said his father. “Take these nice fruits, rap on the door, and sell them to my friend.” Shimi was a little nervous. But he did what he was told. He rapped on the door. The man of the house answered, and saw a tiny five year old child rapping on his door. What was this about? Then, he looked up, and saw his friend, Shimi’s father, watching the door. Aha. So that was the game. “Yes, my dear friend, and what can I do for you today?” asked the father’s friend of Shimi. Shimi replied, “Would you like to buy any of these delicious fruits?” Well, thought the father. I have a choice in the matter? My best friend won’t talk to me if I refuse. He reached in his pocket, and pulled out some nice change. Shimi was ecstatic. He, a five year old child, had a nice chunk of change!

The father was careful to go steadily up the ladder. Now he took Shimi to strangers. But the child was catching on. The coins were rattling in his pocket, and he was thrilled. What does a child with money want? He wants more money, a lot of it. And the father played this to the hilt. Next came a new level of training, and it would hurt. “Shimi, I know you have been selling various nice fruits and food, and you have made some nice change. Now, I want to graduate you to more expensive items. Are you ready to proceed?” Shimi responded, “If you want me to do something, I am ready to try it.” Well, said his father, this is an expensive leather piece from the farm. Find somebody, on your own, to sell it to, and tell me what they pay you for it.”

Shimi was paid, which was for him, an enormous amount of money. Much more than he got for selling an apple. Now he was given good money, not nickels and dimes, but solid dollars. With great pride, he showed his money to his father. His father was disappointed. “Shimi, you took twenty dollars for that leather piece, but it was worth fifty dollars.” Shimi was crushed, and he started to cry. His father was ready for this. He sat Shimi down and explained to him the entire situation and why Shimi should greatly rejoice in the very mistake his father knew he would make.

“Shimi, I have a dear friend, who married a rich girl. His father-in-law gave him a fortune as a nedan, a gift to the husband from the wife’s family, to encourage him to enter business and make a lot of money. Alas, my friend never lost a penny in his life, and had no idea how to proceed. He lost everything, and the money was so much, he could never pay it back. So I took you, a five year old boy, who sold an expensive piece of leather for less than its value. You lost about thirty dollars, and you know what, it is the smartest thing you ever did. Because I am training you to be a businessman, somebody who will one day not do what my friend did when he lost a fortune and could never recoup it. You will recoup the thirty dollars you lost a thousand times. You will have farms, fields, houses, and your wife and children will never have to worry about money. Now, wipe your tears, smile, and get ready for stage two. Now we are going to train you to buy property. Remember the mistake you made today. And be sure that you never make a mistake like that again.” Shimi resolved that he would be very careful next time he sold or bought anything.

“Tomorrow,” said Shimi’s father, “we are going to look at a property I am interested in. Pay close attention how I deal with the owner. Are  you ready?” Shimi was ready. The day came when Shimi followed his father to see him purchase a field from this person. They began to haggle about the price. Finally, the seller said, “I won’t sell for less than such and such.” Shimi’s father said, “Okay, let me think about it,” and left.

Shimi felt very bad for his father. He thought his father had lost out on the property. But his father was doing exactly what he wanted Shimi to see. Never buy property unless  you get a real good deal. If it is worth ten thousand dollars, make sure you don’t pay ten thousand dollars.

My original story of Shimi went on much longer, but suffice here to sum up that Shimi began buying property at economical rates. People realized that he was rich and they rushed to buy his properties and have their children begin Hebrew school on his terms. He insisted that the new people raise their children as his father had raised him, to begin earning money at a tender age. By the time he came of marital age, his parents found for him exactly what they wanted, and here was one growing and happy family.

What a happy world it would be if all children were raised to be happy and wealthy!