Reply To: Yafeh Talmud Torah im Derech Eretz

Popa:

1. How I read the mishna is a fair question. (The reason I didn’t answer it is because it seems that the mishna could easily be read to be specifically speaking out against kollel.)

2. With regard to your friend, I’m guessing (pure conjecture, here) that Dr. Lamm would have suggested that he attend (a school like) YU where he could receive education in Torah and Madda.

3. “Do you think yafeh torah im derech eretz means to work 50 hours a week and learn 5?” If, as I seem to recall, most commentators read the “derech eretz” of the mishna as livelihood/culture (not the minority opinion of good manners), then yes, I think your 50:5 derech eretz:torah ratio (for a layman) is easier to defend than advocacy of a 0:infinity one.

4. As to how I read the mishna, I think it is saying essentially the following “It’s good to learn Torah and to engage in livelihood, because your time will be gainfully spent, averting you from sin (because your schedule will be full [depriving you of time in which to sin] or perhaps because you will be emotionally fulfilled, having done numerous positive things with your time).”