[Avodah] Teaching boys to cook

[Saul Mashbaum]

RBWaxman:

 All we can learn from that is that people should have a profession, lav
: dafka sheperding.


RMBerger

>>

How do you conclude that? Think of it... shepherding allows someone to
learn WHILE working.

>>

Yaakov Avinu took a job as a shepherd for Lavan, and we see from the
Torah that he had a hard time of it, working day and night, and wasn't
always succcessful in preventing thefts. The Rambam writes in the Yad
that a worker must work as hard as he can, proving it from the
hard-working Yaakov  Avinu (see Rambam Hilchot S'chirut 13:7); the
Rambam there says that "Yakov Hatzadik" was rewarded in this world
("Vayifrotz haish m'od m'od..") for his responsibilty and dedication
to his job. At least in this case,
shepherding was far from the cushy job pictured above.


Although much is, legitimately, made of Yaakov's achievements as a
yeshiva bochur,ish tam yoshev halim, he was designated by the Rambam
above as "Yaakov Hatzadik" in the framework of his personal integrity
and work ethic, which is a model for all of us. Haleivai shenizkeh
l'cach, v'd"l.


RMB:
>>

Would Moshe Rabbeinu have become Moshe Rabbeinu if he
had a job that didn't include hours of quiet contemplation?
>>

It is obviously impossible to answer this hypothetical question, but I
am inclined to believe that the answer is yes.

There are indeed maamarei chazal in praise of shepherding, as
practiced by the ushpizin. OTOH, roei b'heima daka were in the time of
chazal apparently for the most part untrustworthy individuals, and
this does not seem to be the preferred position for a nice Jewish boy
at that time.

Having said this, there is an undeniable charm in shepherding; my
daughter Shoshana was a shepherdess for a period of time, in drom Har
Chevron, David HaMelech territory.

Saul Mashbaum