Work on Shabbat/Holidays?
Question
How come the only people permitted to work on Shabbat/Holidays are rabbis or cantors (notwithstanding pikuach nefesh)? I have heard that these people get paid for their preparation. This answer seems completely ridiculous to me -- e.g., there are Cantors who get paid a small fortune for Kippur Services, if the argument is that they are getting paid for preparation, I could not be satisfied -- but for the Cantor's performance on Kippur, he would not be paid. Likewise, if the argument goes for a Rabbi on Shabbat -- I refuse to believe that any Shul paying a Rabbi would pay that Rabbi but for his Shabbat ministerings. Doesn't the Rambam speak to this issue? I am certainly not an expert on this -- but Doesn't the Rambam criticize Rabbinic institutions where the Rabbis are supported financially for their studies? This seems to me to be a HUGELY hypocritical issue in Judaism, and one that I have mostly been rebuked by rabbis for even asking. Can you PLEASE shed some light on this for me?
Answer
Answered by Aaron AbadiYou are criticized by many who shouldn't be taking the money that they're getting. Taking money for Shabbat is a problem, but there are ways around it. If the people went to a qualified Rav & worked it out, may God bless them. Taking money for learning is a huge discussion, certainly not for now. However, the short of it is as follows. The Rambam is very against it, yet he was supported by his brother. The rest of the Rabbanim were for it. The concept of Yissochor Zevulun exists. We cannot have qualified Rabbanim, if we didn't get together and support a few "full-timers." But that is just it. It's good for a select few; serious, self-motivated, intelligent, men, who are going to come on time, leave on time, and not go constantly to weddings & Bar Mitzvas. We can take the millions of dollars given to Kollels and give it to those select few and support them with dignity. Let them pay tuitions and buy normal clothes for their kids. My father's Kollel is very strict in these rules. No coming late or leaving early. A Brit Milah should be before the Seder and a wedding can wait till after. No cell phones and no personal days. If a child is not feeling well, make sure you have coverage. He would rather not have a Kollel than have it the other way. AA