Bais HaVaad on the Parsha, Parshas Eikev

Work-Study

August 22, 2024

Excerpted and adapted from a shiur by Dayan Yosef Greenwald

Then I shall provide rain for your Land in its proper time…that you may gather in your grain, your wine, and your oil.

Dvarim 11:14

The Gemara (Brachos 35b) says that according to R’ Yishmael, this pasuk teaches that a man must earn a livelihood (minhag derech eretz). R’ Shimon bar Yochai maintains that a man must spend all his time studying Torah, because otherwise, “what will become of the Torah?” He understands the pasuk to be speaking of when the Jewish people do not follow the will of Hashem, but when they do, their work will be done by others.

But the Gemara in Menachos (99b) cites an apparently contradictory version of these opinions: R’ Shimon bar Yochai says one can fulfill the mitzvah of studying Torah by reciting krias Shma twice a day, while R’ Yishmael maintains that even one who has learned all of the Torah may not study Greek wisdom, because the mitzvah of Torah study applies all day and all night.

We can answer that R’ Yishmael and R’ Shimon bar Yochai agree that everyone is obligated in the mitzvah of Torah study according to his ability, with some required to study more and others less. R’ Yishmael focuses on spending time: If one is busy earning a livelihood, he may spend less time on Torah study, but if he has ample time, he must dedicate it to talmud Torah rather than other disciplines. R’ Shimon bar Yochai focuses on the extent of a person’s kabalas ol malchus shamayim: Someone who can only do it by reciting Shma has fulfilled the mitzvah, but on the lowest level. One who accepts ol malchus shamayim and follows His will to the maximum recognizes that his livelihood comes from Hashem and his time should be spent serving Him. Such a person will be willing to forgo more time from earning a livelihood and spend it learning instead.