Full Time Torah Study is Not for Everyone

Finance Minister Avigdor Liberman (VIN)

I just don’t get it. I understand that Charedi leaders in Israel don’t like it when the government tampers with their world. But their reaction to the latest incarnation of that is unfair in my view. VIN reports that Finance Minster Avigdor Liberman intends to halve the amount of study hours needed for Charedim to receive their full government stipend. This will enable those who want to work to do so. He also did the following:

On Monday he unveiled a new plan which would end daycare subsidies for children of full-time kollel students as well as nixing property tax discounts which they currently receive. 

Rav Meir Tzvi Bergman (VIN)

For this Liberman is being compared to Haman – the Hitler of his day. I’m sorry but this is a terrible comparison. I get that Charedim don’t like Liberman and the feeling is mutual. But I’m not sure that Liberman’s actual criticisms are all that invalid. I have made some of those criticisms myself. And certainly the latest move by Liberman does not qualify as anti Torah - which is how they characterize being anti Charedi.  

All he wants for the Charedi public is to enable them to better support themselves. This is a kindness. Not a punishment. But apparently Chareidi leaders consider it to be a form of  genocide when any incentives are introduced that reduces the amount of time devoted to Torah study.  

I do not mean to disparage Charedi leaders. I just don’t get the reaction.  

What could possibly be wrong with providing a financial incentive to work? No one is being forced to leave Kollel. Reducing stipends for those who learn for the full 40 hours per week may create hardships for some. But the truly capable and motivated among them will surely continue to do so.  Just as American Charedim do. The US does not provide ANY stipends at all to those who study Torah full time, half time, or any time. That has not stopped anyone so motivated from doing so. 

Why do Charedi leaders believe that the entirety of the Charedi world must learn Torah full time whether they like it or not? Why not leave that to those that are truly capable and motivated? Isn’t that what Liberman is actually doing?

I do not believe God is served best by forced full time Torah study for everyone. Especially for those whose strengths lie elsewhere. I believe instead that every individual should use their own personal strengths to serve God and not abandon them so that can can study Torah full time.  Why can’t a person whose strengths lie in medicine, for example, serve God that way? Even if they can do an adequate job in Torah study, they will surely do a better job serving God in the area where their strengths are greatest. And for a doctor that means saving lives.   

And yet negating one’s strengths in other areas for purposes of full time Torah study is exactly what the Charedi world is all about. In their minds, nothing surpasses Torah study. Not even a career that can save lives.   And therefore any attempt to limit Torah study is seen as – not only Bitul Torah but even genocide! Why else would someone that incentivizes working at least part time be considered akin to Haman?

That was not the view of perhaps the most influential Charedi Jew of the late 19^th and early 20^th century. I have mentioned this before. But it bears repeating. I will ever forget what my Rebbe, R’ Ahron Soloveichik said about his grandfather, R’ Chaim Soloveichik.

R’ Chaim’s nephew was apparently a world renowned doctor. But at first he was a student in his Uncle’s Yeshiva. He approached R’ Chaim and told him that he wanted to go to medical school and become a doctor. He wanted R’ Chaim’s advice on  whether he should leave the Yeshiva for that. R’ Chaim responded as follows: ‘Of course you should go to medical school.’ ‘You’ll be Matzil Nefoshos (saving lives)!’ 

That is almost an exact retelling of the story R’ Ahron told our Shiur back in the early seventies. But today’s rabbinic leaders would never do what R’ Chaim did. Any bright student who expressed a desire to attend medical school would be discouraged from doing so. Because now it is considered Bitul Torah.

Chazal were right. Niskatnu HaDoros. Each successive generation that is further away from the events that took place at Sinai than the previous generation is of lesser stature than the previous generation. 

Indeed.