Efforts to Obtain Additional Income
Question
A question regarding the laws of the obligation to make efforts for livelihood.
I am an avrech in a kollel, learning two sedarim, and my wife has taken upon herself the burden of supporting the household.
At present, our income is exactly equal to our regular monthly expenses. The question is whether the obligation of hishtadlut requires us to make sure that we also have certain reserves — for example, if we need and want to go on vacation, or if unexpected expenses suddenly arise due to pregnancy and childbirth, with Hashem’s help,
and the like.
Or is the obligation of hishtadlut only to ensure that there is bread and milk for now, and if and when unusual expenses arise — whether next week or in another six months — the money will come together with them.
(By “unusual expenses,” I do not mean unrealistic things, but foreseeable things that, in our present situation, we do not yet need.)
Thank you very much, and thank you for the quick response.
I am an avrech in a kollel, learning two sedarim, and my wife has taken upon herself the burden of supporting the household.
At present, our income is exactly equal to our regular monthly expenses. The question is whether the obligation of hishtadlut requires us to make sure that we also have certain reserves — for example, if we need and want to go on vacation, or if unexpected expenses suddenly arise due to pregnancy and childbirth, with Hashem’s help,
and the like.
Or is the obligation of hishtadlut only to ensure that there is bread and milk for now, and if and when unusual expenses arise — whether next week or in another six months — the money will come together with them.
(By “unusual expenses,” I do not mean unrealistic things, but foreseeable things that, in our present situation, we do not yet need.)
Thank you very much, and thank you for the quick response.
Answer
Shalom u’vracha.
You see with your own eyes that Hashem desires your actions and is taking care of you, providing income “exactly equal to the expenses.” This is truly tangible emunah that you and your wife are meriting, as promised to those who engage in the Torah of Hashem with devotion and remove from themselves the “yoke of worldly occupation.”
You have no obligation to do more, and with Hashem’s help, when the needs grow, the income will also grow.
On the other hand, when a person has additional income, it is a mitzvah for him to conduct himself with attention to the future and not waste money on unnecessary things.
Comments
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