[Avodah] Torah Study vs. other contributions to society

[Doron Beckerman]

RMB:

>> No, I disagree over that is the sort order of the list. In what way is
he further behind. The pasuq tells you it's ratzui, not zechus. <<

Apparently that is not how the Taz, nor the Chofetz Chaim, learned the
Gemara.



>> But the Taz, like the rest of us, do not tell you to start learning
rather than save lives. The halakhah is about interrupting learning if
someone else could do it.

That's a separate Din that has nothing to do with the Taz nor the Gemara in
Megillah. That's based on the Gemara regarding a Mitzvah that can be done by
others.

But our case is a person learning Torah in Yeshiva and then  Kollel. He is
accomplishing more by learning than any other activity under the sun, as per
the Taz and Chafetz Chaim. To take out the time when he could have been
learning (that's what we're talking about) to be a Zaka worker or a
psychologist when he can learn flies in the face of  this. Why did he stop
learning and diminish his accomplishments?

>> When the subject is not that of
interruption, hakol modim one chooses hatzalas nefashos.<<

Ha Mina Lach?

>> How can you take a statement about yechidei segulah and turn it into a
lifestyle? <<

Because that lifestyle is good for some. We have a fellow who is learning
full time, well, and being supported. Where does it say that Gadol status is
required for this? If it were, then no one should do it since no one knows
whether he will be a Gadol or not.

>>The mishnah "hevei zahir" doesn't say "when the two conflict". <<

You're right, it has even less to do with our situation than I suggested. It
is merely a statement to treat all mitzvos with respect and not be Mezalzel
in the Dikdukei Halachah of any of them when the situation  presents itself
that they be done. Don't think Lulav is not Chashuv and not look at its tip
too carefully. Don't think Matzah is not Chashuv and not be Makpid to eat a
Kazayis. That's all.

>> As for your parenthetic "(if you would know that to be true)", the
seifa of the mishnah spells out that it's not true. You can't know the
sechar of a mitzvah. Any argument based on the idea that Torah being
consistently the greater sechar choice is simply soseir the mishnah. <<

The Tosfos Yom Tov to that Mishnah quotes the Derech Chaim as follows:

"That which it says... Talmud Torah K'negged Kullam has nothing to do with
"Ein Atta Yodeia Mattan Secharan Shel Mitzvos", for that is only said by
*Mitzvos*, but between Talmud Torah and Mitzvos there it was not said, for
it is obvious *that the reward for Talmud Torah is greater*.
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