Prominent
Dati Leumi Posek Rabbi Shlomo Ha-Cohain Aviner Shlit"a addressed a
statistic reporting that 40% of Charedim do not work. The Rav stated that due
to the economic realities in Israel today, an Avreich (married Yeshiva student)
must learn a profession that permits him to support his family. “A Talmid
Yeshiva cannot remain in Yeshiva indefinitely. He must earn a living and it is
not enough to say ‘Hashem will take care of things and it will be fine’”.
He
told students during a Shiur that there are Avreichim who go to soup kitchens
daily, and that in some Charedi homes children regularly go hungry. That is why a husband must be able to earn a
living. A Talmid can learn for a number of years as everyone must, but at some
point one must reflect and determine if one will be a Rav or Rebbe and if not,
it is time to look for work. The Rav added that not everyone is suited to be a
Rav or Rebbe, though most believe they are, and while one may be a Talmid Chacham
there is still the issue of earning a livelihood. Batei Medrashim are bursting
with Talmidei Chacham that do not have work because all of the jobs in the
Yeshivot are taken.
The
Rav then addressed Avreichim who used to make do with the bare minimum. “Once
upon a time, man slept on straw like Rabbi Akiva and this was fine. But today it is not possible to live like
this. We may sleep on straw but how will one pay tuition for one’s children?
One does not have to eat Prili (type of fruit yogurt) daily but even when
living austerely there is a need for money to pay for different necessities. We cannot change reality with Pilpul. Perhaps
in Vietnam one can survive on one dollar a day but in Israel it is impossible.”
