Q&A: Torah Study
Torah Study
Question
Hello Rabbi,
If a person has the means to study Torah all day, but feels that he would rather go study for a degree or work at a job that is not Torah-related, is there a Jewish-law problem with that? Is he neglecting the positive commandment of “and you shall speak of them”?
In other words, someone who is not forced to leave the kollel and is also able to keep learning—and if he continues, he really will learn, not just waste time—but he simply feels more like doing something else, and the learning is a bit boring to him.
Answer
I do not think there is any prohibition here. One should try, to the best of one’s ability, to study, within the framework of one’s constraints. Boredom and other desires (especially if they are positive) can be considered constraints. “The heart knows the bitterness of its soul,” and only you know how significant this is for you.
See my article here: https://mikyab.net/%D7%9B%D7%AA%D7%91%D7%99%D7%9D/%D7%9E%D7%90%D7%9E%D7%A8%D7%99%D7%9D/%D7%9E%D7%91%D7%98-%D7%A2%D7%9C-%D7%9C%D7%99%D7%9E%D7%95%D7%93-%D7%AA%D7%95%D7%A8%D7%94-%D7%9C%D7%A0%D7%A9%D7%99%D7%9D-%D7%95%D7%9C%D7%9E%D7%93%D7%A0%D7%95%D7%AA-%D7%A0%D7%A9%D7%99%D7%AA
Discussion on Answer
Desires to broaden your horizons, to gain knowledge, to earn a living by the work of your own hands—those are positive desires. A desire simply to neglect Torah study or to occupy yourself with nonsense is less positive.
Sorry for pestering.
1. Is broadening your horizons in the “nonsense sciences” (as you call them) considered broadening your horizons, or engaging in nonsense?
Pretty yeshiva-style hair-splitting, no??
2. Why, really, is broadening your horizons considered a constraint when it comes to neglecting Torah study?
I referred you to the article above.
The fact that in my view these subjects are not interesting does not mean that for others they have no value. In particular, even if we are not talking about science, certain parts of those fields still have value.
Thank you.
What did you mean by “other positive desires”? What counts as positive desires, or not positive desires, in the context of going out to work?