A Short Tribute

Maimonides, of blessed memory, often criticizes Torah scholars who decide to devote their time to Torah rather than to craft, saying that they earn a living from others and, heaven forbid, desecrate God's name and disgrace the Torah, causing harm to themselves and losing their share of the World-to-Come, since it is forbidden to profit from Torah in this world… First, "to make Torah great and glorious". If Torah scholars would not have an income, they could not properly toil at Torah as they should, and Torah would be forgotten…and it is a mitzvah "to make Torah great and glorious". Second, Torah scholars are considered wealthy when their words are heard, in keeping with what is written, "The splendor of the wise is their wealth"… And third, the prohibition applies only to Torah scholars who shirk from their studying in order to indulge in worldly craft. But in the case of a person who sits in yeshiva and teaches Torah to the public, is not idle for any worldly purpose and only fulfills mitzvoth, it is sinful that he not receive from others.