R' Akiva Miller writes:<br><br>Yes, TuM does accept this approach, namely, if Torah<br>study is what you excel at doing, then go for it. There's nothing in<br>TuM which would want to prevent the world from having excellent
<br>rabbis. TuM simply acknowledges that there *IS* value in other
<br>studies, but chalilah that it would put them *above* Torah.<br><br>R' Akiva,<br><br>Is the Torah study in which the subject is engaged in only superior to other contributions if he "excels" or will be an excellent Rabbi?
<br><br>Let us take a hypothetical of an 18 year old of average-ish intelligence who seriously learns Torah B'Taharah, decent Hasmadah, with no Parnassah concerns, and with no aspirations of becoming a Rabbi. <br><br>
This person could be a great medic if he would train, but he does not want to give up the time needed for that course because he wants to continue learning for the foreseeable future.<br><br>He has no plans to go to college, though if he would, he could be a great psychologist. That would rob him of alot of time from Torah study. He will live off of a Kollel stipend and his parents' considerable help, which they will gladly give.
<br><br>By age 40 or so, he'll be a Baki in a good few Massechtos, and he'll have a good knowledge of Halachah, but he has no Rabbinical skills. There are people aged 25 in Yeshivos who know far more than he does.
<br><br>Has this person fulfilled his mission in life from a TuM perspective?<br><br><br>