[Avodah] Torah Study vs. other contributions to society

[Doron Beckerman]

Rn Luntz asks:

>>According to the RDB approach listed above, however, how did
he know that in fact that wasn't more amal batorah than the gadol, and
that his learning might not be more valuable to Hashem and of greater
protection to the world?

He didn't. But there are guidelines for Kavod HaTorah, and even Kedimah in
Hatzalas Nefashos, that have to do with accomplishment. Giving Eitzas also
correlates somewhat (there is no question that there is much more that goes
into it) to what the person knows, and less to how much he toils.

That has nothing to do with what any particular person should choose to do
with his time on earth. If we were talking about limited resources on who to
*teach*, then Rabbeinu Yonah says in fifth Perek of Avos that we should
teach the one who is Kashe L'Shmo'a and Kashe L'Abed over the one who is
Mahir L'Shmo'a and Mahir L'Abed - i.e. intellectual capacity does play a
role here (and it doesn't even seem like Chiddush need necessarily be the
determining factor if he forgets his Chiddushim). But if the question is on
any particular person - there is indeed no way of knowing how (in)valuable
his Torah is, and when the Gemara says Gadol Talmud Torah MeHatzalas
Nefashos, it makes no qualifications as to whether the Talmud Torah is one
which will bring about great Chiddushim.
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