Dear Rabbi Simon
Can you please tell me whether we are commanded to work? Meant to work? What about someone who has enough money to live on (eg through inheritance, savings, successful investments, or similar)?
Thanks
Ashir
Dear Ashir
Thank you for your question, which is, however, a little oblique.
At one level, “work” may be seen as a necessary evil, rather than something inherently worthwhile. At a deeper level, however, we may pose the question, what will a person do with his time if he does not work? From that point of view, work may be preferable to some of the alternatives.
If one is of genuinely independent means and has the inclination and temperament to devote his time to Torah study, that is wonderful. The default position of the human condition, however, is that work is essential for self-worth, personal growth, and more. Still, I would stop short of saying we are “commanded to work”. Work per se is a means to an end, and not a mitzvah unto itself.
BTW, here is a video talk on this subject (in English) from Rabbi Asher Weiss, a halakhic authority of global stature.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=shared&sfnsn=wa&v=rBmbCTs03Nw
Best wishes
Rabbi Rashi Simon