A Partnership with Side Benefits
Vayechi
The institution of the Kollel (where scholars are supported by the community to engage in full time study) finds its origins in this week’s Parsha. On his deathbed, Yaakov blesses each of his sons in turn. When blessing Zevulun, Yaakov says that he ‘will dwell by the seashore and he shall be a haven for ships’. Immediately afterwards Yaakov turns his blessings to Yissachar who is ‘a strong-boned ass couching down between the boundaries… he bent his shoulder to the load.’
Living on the coastal ports of the Mediterranean, the tribe of Zevulun would engage in trade including the blue dye of the rare and expensive Chilazon fish. Yissachar like the ass would carry the load of Torah, toiling day and night in its study.
‘Between the boundaries’ is an allusion to the Sanhedrin which was seated partly in the Beis Hamikdosh and partly in the less holy domain of the Temple mount. Some 200 descendants of the tribe of Yissachar presided over the Sanhedrin. The Yalkut explains that the ‘boundaries’ refer to the two most esoteric dimensions of Torah: The creation and the Prophetic description of the celestial Throne.
The Torah scholar is likened to a donkey since the life of a ben Torah requires devotion to bare the yoke and the humility to make financial sacrifices, without feeling the need for personal financial success, prestige and the like.
The commentaries explain that the two tribes formed a partnership. The descendants of Yissachar who possessed the traits of the scholar would sit in the Yeshivos, becoming the instructors and judges of the Jewish people. They would be supported by the generosity of Zevulun who, with more talents or opportunity in the business world, would engage in commerce. This is alluded to in Moshe’s blessing to the tribes ‘Rejoice Zevulun in your goings out and Yissachar in your tents.’
Zevulun was blessed first by both Yaakov and Moshe, despite being the younger of the two (the other brothers were blessed in chronological order). This indicates the great honour and blessing given to one who supports and facilitates the Torah study of others. The Medrash explains this based on a Talmudic statement ‘If there is no flour (sustenance) there is no Torah’. Were it not for Zevulun’s monetary support, the Torah study of Yissachar would not be possible.
The Zohar teaches that Zevulun was honored since he took bread from his own mouth and gave to Yissachar. Further says the Zohar, whoever supports Talmidei Chachamim, receives blessings of ‘two tables’: being blessed with wealth in this world, and a portion in the World to Come. This is alluded to in Yaakov’s blessing to Zevulun: ‘he shall dwell by the seashore’ refers to this world and the ‘haven for ships’ is in the World to Come.
The Alshich describes further blessings for the Zevulun-benefactor: The verse describes Zevulun as spreading (numerically) all the way to Tzidon. Normally seafarers by nature of their profession do not procreate as greatly as men of other occupations. The Alshich attributes Zevulun’s unexpected fertility and their blessing for children to the support which they extend to enable Yissachar to engage in fulltime Torah study.
In HaYom Yom (Tammuz 9), the Rebbe writes that the greatest guaranteed assurance for all Jewish parents in need of special help and deliverance for their children is through support of those who study Torah.
This certainly doesn’t excuse the Zevulun from his own Torah study. Torah study is mandatory for every man, requiring him to learn a passage each morning and evening (at a minimum) and certainly more on Shabbos.
Yissachar too does not get a “free lunch”. The Torah tells that ‘he became an indentured labourer’. Yissachar does not learn for himself. They bear the responsibility of teaching others and serving as halachic leadership for the Jewish community.
The Yissachar-Zevulun arrangement is a win-win scenario for all of those involved, allowing the supporters of Torah to acquire a share in the fulltime study of Yissachar and drawing down blessings for success in business and nachas from their children.
Living on the coastal ports of the Mediterranean, the tribe of Zevulun would engage in trade including the blue dye of the rare and expensive Chilazon fish. Yissachar like the ass would carry the load of Torah, toiling day and night in its study.
‘Between the boundaries’ is an allusion to the Sanhedrin which was seated partly in the Beis Hamikdosh and partly in the less holy domain of the Temple mount. Some 200 descendants of the tribe of Yissachar presided over the Sanhedrin. The Yalkut explains that the ‘boundaries’ refer to the two most esoteric dimensions of Torah: The creation and the Prophetic description of the celestial Throne.
The Torah scholar is likened to a donkey since the life of a ben Torah requires devotion to bare the yoke and the humility to make financial sacrifices, without feeling the need for personal financial success, prestige and the like.
The commentaries explain that the two tribes formed a partnership. The descendants of Yissachar who possessed the traits of the scholar would sit in the Yeshivos, becoming the instructors and judges of the Jewish people. They would be supported by the generosity of Zevulun who, with more talents or opportunity in the business world, would engage in commerce. This is alluded to in Moshe’s blessing to the tribes ‘Rejoice Zevulun in your goings out and Yissachar in your tents.’
Zevulun was blessed first by both Yaakov and Moshe, despite being the younger of the two (the other brothers were blessed in chronological order). This indicates the great honour and blessing given to one who supports and facilitates the Torah study of others. The Medrash explains this based on a Talmudic statement ‘If there is no flour (sustenance) there is no Torah’. Were it not for Zevulun’s monetary support, the Torah study of Yissachar would not be possible.
The Zohar teaches that Zevulun was honored since he took bread from his own mouth and gave to Yissachar. Further says the Zohar, whoever supports Talmidei Chachamim, receives blessings of ‘two tables’: being blessed with wealth in this world, and a portion in the World to Come. This is alluded to in Yaakov’s blessing to Zevulun: ‘he shall dwell by the seashore’ refers to this world and the ‘haven for ships’ is in the World to Come.
The Alshich describes further blessings for the Zevulun-benefactor: The verse describes Zevulun as spreading (numerically) all the way to Tzidon. Normally seafarers by nature of their profession do not procreate as greatly as men of other occupations. The Alshich attributes Zevulun’s unexpected fertility and their blessing for children to the support which they extend to enable Yissachar to engage in fulltime Torah study.
In HaYom Yom (Tammuz 9), the Rebbe writes that the greatest guaranteed assurance for all Jewish parents in need of special help and deliverance for their children is through support of those who study Torah.
This certainly doesn’t excuse the Zevulun from his own Torah study. Torah study is mandatory for every man, requiring him to learn a passage each morning and evening (at a minimum) and certainly more on Shabbos.
Yissachar too does not get a “free lunch”. The Torah tells that ‘he became an indentured labourer’. Yissachar does not learn for himself. They bear the responsibility of teaching others and serving as halachic leadership for the Jewish community.
The Yissachar-Zevulun arrangement is a win-win scenario for all of those involved, allowing the supporters of Torah to acquire a share in the fulltime study of Yissachar and drawing down blessings for success in business and nachas from their children.