Rabbi Yishmael Ben Rabbi Yosse Said: "He Who Studies Torah In Order To Teach Is Given The Opportunity To Study And Teach; And He Who Studies In Order To Practice Is Given The Opportunity To Study And Teach, To Observe And To Practice."

Rabbi Tzadok Said: "Do Not Separate Yourself From The Community, And Do Not Act As A Counselor [When Sitting As A Judge]. Do Not Make It [The Torah] A Crown For Self-Aggrandizement, Nor An Axe With Which To Cut."

So Too Hillel Used To Say: "He Who Exploits The Crown [Of Torah For His Own Ends] Shall Perish."[18] Indeed, You Have Learned From This That Whoever Derives Personal Gain From The Words Of Torah Removes His Life From The World.

Do Not Make It [The Torah]... An Axe With Which To Cut

The intent is that the Torah should not serve as the means by which one earns one's livelihood.[19] Over the centuries, however, we see that the Jewish community has always paid salaries to its rabbis and teachers.

In Hilchos Talmud Torah,[20] the Alter Rebbe resolves this issue as follows: A person should never begin studying Torah so that he will be able to earn a salary as a teacher or rabbi. If, however, he begins studying with the proper intention, and then the expenses of his household require him to seek a livelihood, he is permitted to earn a salary based on his Torah knowledge.

We should not look to earn wealth[21] from the study of Torah. Nevertheless, Torah study should not prevent a person from supporting himself and his family.

(Likkutei Sichos, Vol. XX, p. 49-50)

Whoever Derives Personal Gain From The Words Of Torah Removes His Life From The World

Nevertheless, the Alter Rebbe writes[22] that even a person who seeks to study Torah for his own aggrandizement should do so, because "A person should always involve himself with the Torah, [even] for a selfish motive. For out of [involvement for] a selfish motive will come involvement for the sake of the Torah itself."[23]

On a simple level, this means that the study of Torah molds each student's thinking processes to the point that he will eventually devote himself to Torah with a selfless intent. There is, however, the possibility for an extended interpretation. - rendered as "For out of" - can also mean "In the depths of." Regardless of a person's conscious motives, the inner incentive for him to study the Torah and fulfill its mitzvos is always commitment for the sake of the Torah itself.

(Ibid.)

   

Notes:

18. (Back to text) V. supra, 1:13.

19. (Back to text) See the commentary of R. Ovadiah of Bartenura and others.

20. (Back to text) 4:15.

21. (Back to text) Given to us as a wage, in contrast to wealth that comes from G-d.

22. (Back to text) Loc. cit.:14.

23. (Back to text) Pesachim 50b, Jerusalem Talmud, Chagigah 1:7.