View source for Learning in Kollel as an Individual and as a Community

The Gemara<ref>Gemara Brachot 35b</ref> 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==
# See the [[Parnasa]] page for reasons as to why there is a halachic imperative to make a Parnasa.
==Value 2: Learning Torah is Unique==
# Learning sustains the upkeep of the world and without the continued presence of Torah study the world would cease to exist.<ref>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. </ref>

==Making a Stipend for Learning==
# The Rambam holds that it is forbidden to make money from learning Torah. However, the Kesef Mishna and many others write how we're simply unable to both learn and earn a living without taking money to learn. Rav Moshe Feinstein and Rav Ovadia Yosef 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.
# There is a positive value to donate money for the support of Torah study.<ref>Tosfot (Ketubot 49a s.v. kal)</ref>

==Sources==
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