Joodse traditie als permanent leren

202.

derive benefit from his study of the Torah and be supported in it. Some say that even a man in full health may do the same, and therefore the custom has grown up everywhere for the Rabbi to be allowed a stipend from the community, in order to avoid his being obliged to engage in other work, and thus publicly bringing the Torah into contempt in the eyes of the masses. Only a Rabbi who has need of this income, and not one who is rich, may take advantage of this. But some allow even further for the Rabbi and his students to accept their needs from those who contribute to the support of students of the Torah, in order to allow them to devote themselves to study in comfort. Yet in any case, one who is able to support himself adequately by the work of his hands, and also to give up time to study, is living on the plane of piety. Such ability is a gift of God, to which not every man attains. For it is not possible for every man to give up time to study of the Torah and become proficient in it while supporting himself by other means.

Though it be granted that a Rabbi may receive compensation from the community, or a fixed income for his needs, he may not receive gifts from individuals. When, therefore, it is said that every one who brings a gift to the Rabbi is as if he were bringing the offering of first fruits, this applies only to small gifts, such as people are accustomed to give to an honored man, even though he be not learned. But some authorities allow the Rabbi to receive more substantial gifts; and the Rabbinical head of a Talmudic College or of a Jewish Court may receive gifts without limit, for he is like a ruler. The latter must be very careful not to accept anything in the way of a gift from any litigant.

A Rabbi must keep himself far from the great shame of those few who run after money and ask for gifts. For they bring the Torah and those who study it into reproach. If even the priests were not allowed to ask for the portions which were theirs by law, how much the less may Rabbis ask for gifts. Such conduct is a great sin, "and the just shall live by his faith" (Hab. 2:4). A Rabbi may take a small part of something on which he is asked to give a ritual decision when this is necessary to make his decision clear. But he is prohibited from taking as a gift any considerable portion of some object which he has declared as ritually permissible.

He who uses the crown of the Torah for his own purposes will perish.