I would like to thank all for finding these important maamarei Chazal that R Aharon Kotler and others obviously missed. It’s too bad the coffeeroom didn’t exist back then for them to see, or the Jewish world would probably look much different today.
On a more serious note, many sources listed above go back to R’ Yishmael vs. R’ Shimon Bar Yochai, either directly or indirectly.
Everyone knows that there are more aniyim than ashirim in the world. It has always been that way, and will always be so. Ki lo yechdal evyon mikerev haaretz. So if Harbeh asu k’John Rockefeller or Bill Gates, vlo alu byadam, does that mean one shouldn’t try? In the gashmiyusdike world they all are hoping their child will be the next Steve Jobs, or Sam Walton or whoever.
Yeshiva and Kollel, full time learning, is built on every single person wanting the best for their child. Yes, many if not most will not be able to survive, and may not thrive that way. But that doesn’t mean one can’t strive to be the best he can be? Isn’t that the American dream, to want that our children should have it better than we do?
R’ Yishmael never said that RSBY was wrong. Just that it was a tough act to follow. Everyone is entitled to give it the good old ‘college’ try.
RSBY also said Ra’isi bnai aliya v’hema muatim. Im elef hem, ani ubni imahen, im meah hem, ani ubni imahen, im shnayim hem, ani ubni. That is the dream of every ben Torah.
Another point. The world has changed in recent years and decades. There is wealth beyond what anyone could have imagined a century ago. The world and Torah community’s economy allows for this lifestyle to be supported. For some, that means they can have two or three cars. They can go on vacation to the other end of the country or world many times a year. Some homes are as big as apartment buildings were just a few years ago. They can afford to have little devices in their hands that can do more than a suite full of heavy machines could do just a generation ago. For others, they use that as an opportunity for something else. Pas bamelech tochal, umayim bamesurah tishte etc,(albeit at a slightly updated 21st century level) uvatorah ata ameil. And they are Ashrecha vtov lach as they attempt to join RSBY’s bnai aliya. If you are zoche to the highest level, you can be a Yissochor in that formula. If not, partake of the program as a Zevulun. But those who decide to sit out completely, and to C”V discourage those Zevulun’s from making the system work, well I’m not mekaneh their chelek in Olam Haba.