# Learning in Kollel as an Individual and as a Community

Source: Halachipedia: Learning in Kollel as an Individual and as a Community

Link: [https://halachipedia.com/index.php?title=Learning_in_Kollel_as_an_Individual_and_as_a_Community](https://halachipedia.com/index.php?title=Learning_in_Kollel_as_an_Individual_and_as_a_Community)

Exported: 2025-12-30

The Gemara¹ explains that there was once an intense dispute between Rabbi Yishmael and Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai whether it was appropriate to learn full-time and rely on Hashem to work out a person's livelihood or to both work and learn. The conclusion of the gemara is that many people tried Rabbi Shimon's system and failed, while many times Rabbi Yishmael's system and succeeded.
## Value 1: Making a Parnasa
1. See the [Parnasa](https://halachipedia.com/index.php?title=Parnasa) page for reasons as to why there is a halachic imperative to make a Parnasa.
## Value 2: Learning Torah is Unique
1. Learning sustains the upkeep of the world and without the continued presence of Torah study the world would cease to exist.²

## Making a Stipend for Learning
1. The Rambam holds that it is forbidden to make money from learning Torah. However, the Kesef Mishna ([Hilchot Talmud Torah 3:10](https://rambam.alhatorah.org/Dual/Kesef_Mishneh/Talmud_Torah/3.10#m7e0n6)) and many others write how we're simply unable to both learn and earn a living without taking money to learn. Rav Moshe Feinstein ([Igros Moshe Y.D. 2:116](https://hebrewbooks.org/pdfpager.aspx?req=919&pgnum=188)) and Rav Ovadia Yosef (Yabia Omer Y.D. 7:17:3)³ concur that it is permissible to take a stipend for learning in Kollel and one shouldn't be concerned with the opinion of the Rambam on this matter.
2. There is a positive value to donate money for the support of Torah study.⁴

## References

¹: Gemara Brachot 35b

²: The Gemara Avoda Zara 3a states that Hashem made a pact with the heavens and earth stating that if Bnei Yisrael wouldn't accept the Torah, He would send it back into a state of chaos. Mishna Avot 1:2 says that Torah is one of the 3 pillars upon which the world stands. See further in Nefesh HaChaim Shaar 4.

³: Quoted by רב יעקב נרי פריאל in "[קבלת שכר עבור הוראה ולימוד תורה](https://ygolan.org/article-category/%D7%A7%D7%91%D7%9C%D7%AA-%D7%A9%D7%9B%D7%A8-%D7%A2%D7%91%D7%95%D7%A8-%D7%94%D7%95%D7%A8%D7%90%D7%94-%D7%95%D7%9C%D7%99%D7%9E%D7%95%D7%93-%D7%AA%D7%95%D7%A8%D7%94/)", published in Kol Beramah vol. 29, 5777, [pg. 189](https://asif.co.il/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/1-6-25.pdf#page=11)

⁴: Tosfot (Ketubot 49a s.v. kal)