Investing His Share
A rich man once came to ask for my blessing regarding various issues. In order for the blessing to be effective, I suggested that he make a donation to help the yeshiva students. In this manner, he would consecrate his assets by supporting Torah. But the man refused.
“Honored Rav, I am an honest businessman. Every penny I earn comes with sweat and toil. How can you expect me to support yeshiva men, who spent all their time warming the Beit Hamidrash bench? They should go out and make a living! Who do they think they are, these parasites, living off other people’s hard-earned money? I won’t give a cent to such leeches!”
Upon hearing such disparaging words of degradation, coming from obvious ignorance of the virtue of Torah study, I was utterly taken aback. How could this man speak like that about the precious ones of our people, who immerse themselves wholeheartedly in the holy Torah on a steady basis? I told the man that he should try sitting by the Gemara for just one day. If he could do it, I would give him whatever he wanted.
He scoffed at my offer. “One day? I’ll sit in the Study Hall and learn for an entire week!”
But things played themselves out exactly as I had anticipated. The man sat for a while, trying desperately to focus on the Talmud before him, just as the yeshiva boys were doing. But he could not muster the necessary level of concentration. He finally gave up in despair. But he gained a great insight.
Torah study is not something to be taken lightly. It is by definition a difficult undertaking, demanding strenuous intellectual exercise. One should never underestimate, and certainly not ridicule, those who learn Torah. It is on their broad shoulders that the entire world rests.
From then on, this man had nothing but admiration and respect for the yeshiva men. He has merited contributing sizeable sums to many holy institutions. He has attained the title of Zevulun, the one who happily supports Yissachar.
