http://www.torah.org/learning/pirkei-avos/chapter2-2a.html
http://www.torah.org/learning/pirkei-avos/chapter2-2b.html

"Rabban Gamliel the son of Rabbi Yehuda the Prince said, good is Torah study together with a worldly occupation, for the exertion in both makes one forget sin. All Torah study without work will result in waste and will cause sinfulness. Anyone who works for the community should work for the sake of Heaven, for the merit of their [the community's] forefathers will help him, and their righteousness endures forever. And as for you, [says G-d], I will grant you much reward as if you accomplished it on your own."

two reasons for the importance of supporting oneself. The first is that Torah study combined with work causes one to "forget" sin. The simple meaning, is that if one holds down a full-time job and studies Torah for his remaining time, he will be too *busy* - as well as exhausted - to think about sinning. Idle time leads to wandering minds, fantasizing, and cooking up all sorts of wild ideas.

Another explanation of "forgetting" sin is that the combination of Torah study and self-sufficiency will safeguard a person from temptation. If we earn enough to make ends meet, we will have no overpowering temptation to steal from others. Further, if at the same time we study Torah, we will have acquired the moral bearings to protect ourselves from temptation. We will develop a stronger sense of right and wrong, and we will incorporate the Torah's dictate of being happy with one's lot. Finally, the mere fact that we are not pursuing our careers relentlessly but are dividing our time between Torah study will lessen our often insatiable drive for money and prestige.

The second reason offered by our mishna is that Torah study alone will result in "waste" and "sinfulness." The meaning is clear. One might think he is "saving" himself time by studying Torah without interruption. Money, however, is a problem which does not go away (does go away?), and such a person will soon be reduced to poverty and want. He will then have to start running around looking for some alternate means of support -- and the search will likely be frustrating and ongoing. He will be tempted to beg, cut moral corners, accept handouts, or outright steal in his desperation, all of which will lower his integrity and self-respect -- and all because he was too "holy" to be responsible for himself in the first place. The end result will be "waste": Rather than his full-time study *saving* him time, such a person will become so occupied with the pursuit of money - both mentally and emotionally - that he will have neither time nor composure to study very much at all -- certainly far less than had he put in the necessary time to his profession and then devoted his remaining worry-free hours to the study of Torah.

The psychological effects of not supporting oneself can as well be devastating. Even if one theoretically could live on handouts, it would destroy his sense of humanity. Living off of others is antithetical to practically all of human virtue. King Solomon wrote: "One who hates gifts will live" (Proverbs 15:27). If one gets by without a sense of being productive himself, he does not have true life. Life is accomplishment and productivity. Sitting back expecting to be handed a welfare check destroys a person and his will to make something for himself. He will have no self-esteem and no self-respect. We learned earlier: "Love work and despise high position" ( Mishna 1:10). We should *want* to work and make something for ourselves. And our agenda should be our own productivity, not our prestige or position on the totem pole. The Talmud writes: "One should flay carcasses in the marketplace and earn a living. He should not say I am a Priest, I am a great man and such work is beneath me" (Pesachim 113a). There is no such thing as being beneath one's dignity to put in an honest day's work. Work *is* what gives us our dignity, as well as our sense of self-worth.

"Whoever thinks he will study Torah and not work and will be supported from charity, profanes G-d's Name, shames the Torah, darkens the light of knowledge, causes harm to himself, and takes his life from this world, for it is forbidden to derive benefit from the Torah in this world."

it was a far better arrangement in the days when the community rabbi did not draw a salary from his congregation. (We'll talk about such "exceptions" to the rule next week, G-d willing.) Once the rabbi is beholden to his constituents - even for a well-deserved paycheck - he will not be able to wield authority and speak his piece in the manner he sometimes should. The laymen hold the purse strings and run the board. The rabbi must answer to them rather than they to him.)

Thus far we have made a strong case against Torah study without sufficient means of support. Everyone without exception, it seems, should be earning his keep. However, as with all things in Judaism (and life), there are two sides to every issue. G-d willing next week we will explore some of the exceptions to this principle and their practical applications.

Study is hardly the ends. The true purpose of life is to take that study and to apply it, to feel a sense of responsibility towards others, and to want to impact positively upon mankind. Study is only a means - the first step - towards true fulfillment.