On a recent visit to Los Angeles, Rabbi Yehuda Bakst, rosh hayeshiva of Ateres Mordechai of Detroit, delivered a shiur at a reception in his honor. The Kest family hosted the reception.
HaRav Bakst also addressed students at Los Angeles Yeshiva Gedolah, and imparted this message:
There are two major aspects in the life of a Jew. One is “v’hagisa bo yomam va’lailah (to expend your time learning Torah)” and “v’asafta d’ganecha (the need to work to have food and shelter).” Rav Chaim Volozhin writes that the need for spending time on parnassah is not a heter not to learn Torah when working, for when you are working you must also learn Torah. The heter is that only a small amount of bitul Torah (neglect of Torah study) that comes while working is acceptable. You can still learn while working, as you must learn all day (“v’hagisa bo yomam va’lailah).”
May Hashem give you all the strength necessary to fulfill this mitzvah.
(Clockwise) Rabbis Gross, Jacobius, and Moldaver greet Rabbi Bakst during
the latter’s visit to Los Angeles Yeshiva Gedolah
Photo credit: Rabbi Arye D. Gordon
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