[Avodah] Torah study vs/ other contributions to society

[Doron Beckerman]

RMB says:
>> The gemara, Megillah 16b, was discussed back in v13n43. See RAM's post
at <http://www.aishdas.org/avodah/vol13/v13n043.shtml#03> and
responses. I was running with a different one raised later. But the
gemara in question is about Mordechai giving up kavod haTorah for
hatzalas nefashos. Which he held was the right choice. Nor did they
tell him it was the wrong choice. Just the one that left him lesser
(in the relevant way). <<

Who learns Pshat that he was giving up *Kavod* HaTorah? The Gemara says
"Talmud Torah". Additionally, that is why I quoted the Chafetz Chaim who
says openly that the one who learns Torah *has accomplished* more than the
one who dealt in Hatzalas Nefashos.

>>: What of Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai and his group, who are granted Toraso
: Umanuso exemptions from Mitzvos Ma'asiyos?

... and whose talmidim didn't succeed and we are told not to follow? <<

We are told not to follow his Derech for *the multitudes* (*Harbeh* Assu
etc.), but the Biur Halachah (156) says that there are individuals who can,
and should, follow this path, [and Halachah specifically grants exemption
from Tefillah for these people]. However, I overstated my case in saying
that this category of people is still not exempt from "Mitzvos Ma'asiyos" as
I stated earlier.



>> So I reiterate my question -- how does this notion of focussing on one
mitzvah not violate the mishnah of havi zahir, which seems to me to
advocate as broad of a focus on mitzvos as possible? <<

I think the Mishnah means not to be Mezalzel in any Mitzvah. Not to fulfill
the Middas HaZehirus -rather one must be particular to keep it with all the
Dikdukim etc. that one keeps the others. See Yalkut to Parshas Ekev, where
David HaMelech says that he is concerned with violation of the Mitvzos that
a person is Dash B'Akeivav  - which is the implication of "Mitzvos Kallos",
and this Mishnah is quoted as the source for that.

IOW, this Mishnah is LaAfukei a person who might ignore the obligation to
stop learning to shake the Lulav because he is learning and racking up a
million points a second instead of the thousand points for Lulav, Al Derech
Mashal. But the Mishnah is not advocating anything beyond that.

It is true that Gemillas Chessed is a co-requisite of the Adam HaShalem -
"Kol HaOmair Ain Li Ella Torah Afillu Torah Ain Lo", as the Mishnah Berurah
writes in Hilchos Yom Kippur, but that does not mean, necessarily, that one
should give up alot of time to train to be a Zaka worker when he can put
away Sefarim in the Beis Medrash at the end of the day to fulfill that
Chessed requirement.
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