Gavra – I’m not sure what you mean by mussar movement, the points he mentions are extremely relevant to our discussion. The whole shaar speaks about chasivus Limud HaTorah and the importance of using all ones time to learn Torah. Therefore the more time people spend on it and the more time they make available for it, obviously the more they are fulfilling this obligation. In Chapter 13 he quotes from chazal that Hashem created the world only for the purpose of learning Torah.
All Torah learning upholds the world and I never said otherwise, every single person which spends time learning is doing the ratzon Hashem, but since those in Kollel are immersed full day in learning Torah they are upholding the world the entire day.
I’m not telling you that everyone can be in Kollel, all I’m saying is that one has to appreciate and respect those who are living the ideal life of being fully immersed in Torah study.
I’m not trying to convince anyone to do anything – as I’ve said numerous times, that’s for each person to discuss with their own Rav. The reason I started posting again is since I feel it is wrong to sit back when no one is sticking up for the Torah, especially after comments to the effect that learning Torah causes people to go off the derech and emaciated kids.
In extreme cases of poverty where the family is suffering (though it’s up do them to decide whether they can cope with it, not outsiders or guests who don’t feel comfortable with their host’s financial situation), I agree with you that one can try find a way to bring in some extra money, the Chofetz Chaim also worked in a shop though he only had it open for the minimum time necessary and then went back to learning. It doesn’t have to be a contradiction to being in Kollel or learning full day/as much as one can.
Kol hakovod to everyone who is being moser nefesh for Torah and we should be mobilizing all forces to ensure that people can continue to do so easily rather than trying to stop the system.
Sorry for the long post, all that has been bottled up the past few days inside me whilst I have tried to keep silent, must be coming out…