Article: Why You Should Support AskTheRav.com
The mitzvah of hachzakas Torah (supporting Torah learning) is independent of our general obligation of giving tzedakah (charity). It is greater than any other form of tzedakah and includes supporting even a wealthy talmid chacham (Torah scholar) so they can learn with peace of mind free of financial worry. In addition to monetary support, the mitzvah includes providing them with food, coffee, electricity, sefarim (holy books) and any assistance their families may need. Even though charitable giving is usually capped at twenty percent of a person’s earnings, the amount of money contributed to the cause of hachzakas Torah is not restricted.
Supporting Torah learning should be fulfilled by everyone—even those who are talmidei chachamim themselves, poor people (who might not earn enough to obligate them to give regular tzedakah) and women (whose obligations to Torah study differ from men). The Torah says in Parashas Ki Savo: “Baruch asher yakim es divrei haTorah hazos” (Blessed are those who uphold the words of this Torah). We are told this pasuk refers to those who support Torah learning (and are warned that the opposite applies—chas v’shalom—to those who are negligent in this regard). In Parashas Ekev, it states “U’vo sidvak” (and you should cling to Him)—it is a positive mitzvah to connect to Hashem, and the path to do so is through sustaining talmidei chachamim. Likewise, the lav (Torah prohibition) in the next parashah of “Hishamer lecha pen ta’azov es halevi” (watch over yourself, lest you abandon the [tribe] of Levi)—who were a tribe of Torah scholars—is an admonition to us to be vigilant in supporting Torah scholars.
An individual’s responsibility of talmud Torah (Torah study) is so great, that there are many admonitions associated with bitul Torah (squandering [time that can be used] for Torah study). We are informed by Chazal that the pasuk (verse) in the Shema, “Vedibarta bam” (and you should speak in it [Torah]) is an obligation to constantly converse in Torah learning–“velo b’devarim acherim” (and not any other subject). But if bitul Torah does occur (intentionally or not), there is an opportunity to repair some of the damage by partnering with talmidei chachamim. By supporting them, we earn schar (reward) equal to learning ourselves—both in this world and in olam habah (the World to Come).*
This also applies to those who lack the aptitude to devote themselves to complex Torah study and therefore pursues another occupation. They fulfill the minimal “expending effort by day and night” with a period of learning in the morning and in the evening (devoting this time to learning practical halachos so they can fulfill the mitzvos properly without having to constantly ask for guidance, as well as with mussar and Chassidus—see Halachah #773). The rest of the day, when involved in conducting their business, they emend the lack of Torah study by supporting talmidei chachamim with part of their profits, which will be considered as though they studied all day themselves.
*To see more about the benefits of partnering in Torah learning see here:
From Halacha2Go Archives
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