Some Torah scholars seem to believe that everyone else should pay their way in life, while all they engage in is studying. I don’t believe this was the intention of YHVH. The Talmud records the occupations of many outstanding scholars. Hillel, for example, was a woodcutter, R. Johanan a shoemaker, R. Huna a farmer, and R. Isaac a blacksmith. R. Gamaliel said: “Great is the study of Torah together with an occupation, for laboring over both makes a man forget sin.” (Avot 2:2) The Rambam castigated the practice of having Torah scholars supported by funds given on their behalf in Tractate Avot, chapter 4. He went so far as to say a scholar who was being supported by others was exploiting the Torah.

He goes on to show that nowhere in the Talmud were there records of Torah scholars being sustained by donations. Hebrew law even shows clear concern for the working man. A worker employed by the day must be paid his wages before sunrise the following day (Lev. 19:13). One employed by the night, must be paid by the following sunset (Deut.24:15). Furthermore, payment was to be made in money, not goods. In his commentary on Deut. 20, the Rambam notes that prisoners of war taken by Israel may be assigned to chop wood and draw water, but must be paid fair wages.

Now to take this to today’s world, how many men behind the pulpit are being supported by their churches? Does this hamstring them in telling the real truth because of fear of losing their family income? I believe if we are still physically able, we should not depend on others to support us. That way we do not have to compromise in telling the real way to walk, in Sabbath, in the festivals, and in Torah! A lot of present day rabbis and preachers must not have read the verse that basically says: if you don’t work- you don’t eat! (2 Thes. 3:10)