Collections: Rabbi Weinberger: Toras Baal Shem Tov

Description

Packets from Rav Mottel Zilber, pages 25-26. Each Jew needs to figure out which path is correct for himself, learning or working. However, for most of Jewish history people worked for a living. This did not mean they were devoid of Torah, but the majority of their focus was on work. Only in Lithuania under the GR"A was a stronger emphasis placed on learning Torah. The "learn all day" approach for the masses was founded there. At that time Chassidus did not make inroads into the Lithuanian stronghold, and this model solidified itself in the Jewish consciousness. However, for Chassidim and most other Jews, a vocation was their focus. Learning and Davening were part of the day, but never the entire day.