Over Shabbos one of the doors slammed shut because of the wind. My two year old looked up to my wife and said, "That's a boom? We go to the miklat (bomb-shelter)?". Our friend told us that their child's first word was "Hatra'ah", which is the advanced incoming missile warning from Iran.
Such a strange world.
"These are the chukos (laws that we cannot fully understand) of the Torah" (Bamidbar 19:2).
Rav Moshe Pollack writes that this line is a mere continuation of the lines in the end of last week's parsha. Last week's parsha ended with the laws of "gifts" given to the Kohanim and Leviim, since, as teachers of the Torah and those dedicated to serve in the Beis HaMikdash, they were not given their own land, but were to be scattered throughout the nation.
Being so, they had no inherited form of income (since they had no access to agriculture). Their income was provided by those around them in order that they should be wholly involved with Torah. And then immediately following this idea the Torah states, "These are the chukos of the Torah." "Don't complain that they are supported by you," says Hashem. "This is what I have decreed."
The nation needs scholars, and if one wants to be fully involved in Torah and mitzvos in order to become one, they simply cannot do so while actively being involved in business as well, and therefore, must be supported by others. And yes, of course, we have plenty of examples of Torah scholars that were involved in business and the like, most famously, the Rambam. Usually, however, I have found that before they started working in business or medicine, they were supported by others beforehand where they grew to become who they were. For example, the Rambam.
Even so, those are the exceptions to the rule. Most people who are truly striving to become Torah scholars need to be supported by others. This is simply "a decree from Heaven." And as the population grows, the more scholars are needed to fulfill the many roles that they play in our communities. Who will be our national leaders? Who will be our local leaders? Who will be the teachers in yeshivos? Who will teach our children in school? Who will work in kashrus? In building mikvaos? Etc.
Rav Chaim Greinamen related that once a young man learning in kollel was very pressed financially. Somebody approached him and offered to make a "Yissachar & Zevulin Deal" with him. This person would support him financially, and in return he would receive half of the reward for learning Torah, that this young man learned.
So, he went to the Chazon Ish and asked what he should do. On one hand, he will lose half of his reward for his hard work. On the other hand, if he doesn't take it, he would continue to receive his full reward, but there is a good chance that he would have to leave the kollel to support his family.
The Chazon Ish replied that, yes, it is true, he will give up on half his reward. Yet, he will NOT have to give up on the reward he gets for the exertion and effort he puts into his learning. THAT will always remain his.
With these two thoughts, I wish you all an amazing Shabbos!