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Why does the Gemara (גמרא) say failing to teach your son a trade is like teaching him to steal? The shiur uses the Talmudic passage about animals and their theoretical professions to reveal that business often involves legitimate self-interest that borders on taking advantage. Someone trained only in business learns to profit through cleverness rather than honest labor, making the transition to illegitimate means easier when desperate.
This shiur explores a fascinating passage from Talmud (תלמוד) Kiddushin that states 'If you don't teach your son a profession, you're teaching him to steal.' Rabbi Zweig begins by examining the apparent contradiction between the Tanna Kamma, who requires teaching a child any means of livelihood (including business), and Rav Yehuda, who specifically mandates teaching a trade. The Gemara (גמרא)'s language seems extreme - why would failing to teach a trade be equivalent to teaching theft? The shiur delves into three fundamental questions: First, why does the Gemara use such strong language about 'teaching to steal' when the father isn't actively teaching theft? Second, what makes a trade superior to business when trades can also become obsolete (as illustrated through modern examples of barbers, tailors, and even surgeons who didn't adapt to laparoscopic techniques)? Third, where in the text do we see any actual connection to theft?
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Kiddushin 29a-32b
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