Rabban Gamliel, Son Of Rabbi Yehudah Hanasi, Said: "It Is Good [To Combine] The Study Of Torah With An Occupation, For The Effort Required By Them Both Keeps Sin Out Of Mind; While All Torah Study That Is Not Combined With Work Will Ultimately Cease And Will Lead To Sin.

"All Who Occupy Themselves With The Affairs Of The Community Should Be Engaged With Them For The Sake Of Heaven, For The Merit Of Their Fathers Assists Them, And Their Righteousness Endures Forever. And Upon You [Says G-D] I Will Bestow Great Reward, As Though You Had Accomplished It [All By Yourselves]."

All Torah Study Not Combined With Work Will Cease In The End And Lead To Sin

Although the obvious meaning of the term "work" is actual labor, there is the possibility of an extended interpretation. The Previous Rebbe relates[15] that R. Levi Yitzchak of Berditchev would quote the Baal Shem Tov as explaining that in this context, "work" refers to ahavas Yisrael - our efforts to establish bonds of love with other Jews. For Torah study to be perpetuated, it must be coupled with ahavas Yisrael.

R. Levi Yitzchak explained that this teaching brought about a fundamental change in his life, motivating him to dedicate himself to the welfare of his fellow Jews.

Why does the mishnah refer to ahavas Yisrael as "work"? To teach us that we must strain to extend our ahavas Yisrael to include even those whom we have no inclination to love. And we must use every means possible to reach out to others.

(Likkutei Sichos, Vol. I, p. 260-261)

   

Notes:

15. (Back to text) Sefer HaSichos Kayitz 5700, p. 115.