THE VALUE OF EARNING A LIVING

Dear Family,

I hope everyone is well.

Mazal Tov to Netanel whose birthday is tomorrow. Wishing you a fun year Netanel with lots of learning!

Mazal Tov to Yosef whose birthday is next week. Wishing you a happy year Yosef!

In this week's Sedra Noach, we see the dove leaving the ark, plucking an olive branch and bringing it back to Noach, indicating that the flood had receded.

And Rashi then comments from the Sages '..Let my food be bitter like the olive, from the Hand of The Holy One, Source of Blessing, rather than sweet as honey from the hands of human beings.'

Related to this I saw the following points this week:

Baal Shem Tov - Meor Einayim Shabbos p451

The Baal Shem Tov taught that working in a worldly occupation can be equivalent, or even greater than studying Torah.

Because everything in the world was created for the Glory of Hashem, and when a person uses worldly items, in the way that Torah has prescribed, he (or she) is serving their Maker

The Rebbe Rashab - Shmuos Vesippurim Vol 1 p 78

It took many years for the Rebbe Rashab to decide about becoming the next Lubavitcher Rebbe, after his father passed away.

He later shared what prompted him to consent:

'The Mitteler Rebbe writes that toiling in business faithfully (BeEmunah) is greater than studying Torah lishmah (for its own sake and without any ulterior motives - a very high level)

Being so, it is probably more challenging as well

I was therefore afraid to undertake that mission, and I chose this job instead'...

The Rebbe Rashab - Likutei Sichos Vol 1 p 224

One of the chassidim of the Rebbe Rashab was a scholar who had an excellent mind.

One day he began to manufacture galoshes, and in due course he became deeply involved in his business.

Seeing him the Rebbe Rashab commented ' I have seen feet in galoshes, but a head in galoshes..?!'

Our Sages

Many of our Sages worked as menial labourers to earn a living:

Hillel was a woodcutter; R Oshiya, R Chanina and R Yochanan were shoemakers; R Yehuda was a baker; and others worked as blacksmiths, netweavers, tailors, diggers, and porters.

Gut Shabbos to all