Kiddushin 82b — the Talmud in English

Rav Judah said: ![](pamud.bmp "

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the needlework of a maker of telamiyot

[a needlework called “telamit,” whose stitches are made in rows, like furrows].

It was taught: Rabbi says: There is no occupation that passes away

[that becomes obsolete]

from the world.

For whether it is clean, or whether it is repulsive, there is a need for it. And if this person will not engage in it, another will engage in it.

However,

fortunate is one who sees his parents

[those who brought him forth, and his children] when they are engaged

in a superior occupation.

And

woe to one who sees his parents

when they are engaged

in a defective occupation.

It is impossible for the world to be without a perfume seller

[one who sells perfumes],

and

it is impossible for it

to be without a tanner

[one who processes hides].

However,

fortunate is one whose occupation

is

a perfume seller

, for he always emits a pleasant smell.

And woe to one whose occupation

is

a tanner

, for he always emits a bad smell.

The world cannot exist without males and without females.

However,

fortunate is one whose sons are males, and woe to one whose sons are females.

Rabbi Meir says: A person should always teach his son a clean occupation

[one in which there is no concern of robbery, and in which there is no financial loss],

and an easy one.

And

he should not say: There is no such work that provides its practitioners with a livelihood. Rather,

he should ask for mercy from the One whose wealth and possessions are His,

that blessing should rest upon the work of his hands.

Because

poverty

does not

come

from

the occupation, and

wealth does not

come

from

the occupation.

Rather,

the source of wealth belongs

to the One whose wealth it is.

As it is stated: “

The silver is Mine and the gold is Mine, declares the Lord

of Hosts.”

We learned in the Mishna:

Rabbi Shimon ben Elazar says:

Have

you ever seen in your lifetime

a wild animal or bird that has an occupation?!

It was taught: Rabbi Shimon ben Elazar says: In all my days I have never seen a gazelle who dries figs

[one who dries figs in the field],

or a lion who carries burdens, or a fox who is a shopkeeper.

And

nevertheless,

they are sustained

[their food comes to them]

without distress.

And

is this not a kal va-chomer? —

They were created only to serve me, and

if

I was created to serve my Maker.

And if so,

these, who were created only to serve me,

yet they

are sustained without distress; I, who was created to serve my Maker, is it not a logical inference that I should be sustained without distress?!

Rather, I caused my deeds to become bad, and

thereby

I forfeited my livelihood.

As

it is stated: “Your iniquities turned away”!

We learned in the Mishna:

Rabbi Nehorai says: I set aside every occupation

in the world, and I teach my son nothing but Torah.

It was taught: Rabbi Nehorai says: I set aside every occupation in the world, and I teach my son nothing but Torah.

Because

every occupation in the world does not stand by a person

except

during the days of his youth.

But during the days of his old age,

when he has no strength to engage in it,

he lies abandoned in hunger.

But Torah is not so.

Rather,

it stands by a person

during his youth, and gives him a future and hope during his old age.

What does it say concerning his youth

[Isaiah 40:31]: “

But those who hope in the Lord

will renew their strength; they will rise up with pinions like eagles.”

What does it say concerning his old age

[Psalms 92:15]: “

They will still be fruitful in old age; they will be full of sap and fresh.”

We have completed you, tractate Ten Lineages, and tractate Kiddushin has been completed