Worthy and Unworthy Professions

R. Judah said: An unmarried man must not tend cattle, nor may two unmarried men sleep together under the same cover. But the sages permit it. One whose business is with women must not be alone with women. And one should not teach his son a woman’s trade. R. Meir says: One should always teach his son a clean and easy profession and pray to Him to whom wealth and property belong. For a profession does not contain [the potential for] poverty and wealth, for poverty is not due to one’s profession, nor is wealth due to the profession, but all depends on merit. R. Simeon ben Eleazar says: Have you ever seen a wild beast or a bird with a profession? Yet they are sustained without trouble. Now, were they not created only to serve me, while I was created to serve my Master? Surely then I should make a living without trouble! But my evil acts have done me in and withheld my livelihood. Abba Gurion, a man of Sidon, says in the name of Abba Guria: One should not teach his son [to be] a donkey-driver, camel-driver, wagon-driver, sailor, shepherd, or shopkeeper, because their profession is the profession of robbers. R. Judah says in his name: Most donkey-drivers are wicked, while most camel-drivers are worthy men, and most sailors are pious. The best of doctors are destined for Gehenna, and the worthiest of butchers is Amalek’s partner. R. Nehorai says: I will abandon every profession in the world, and I will not teach my son anything but Torah, for a person enjoys its reward in this world while the principal remains for him in the world to come. But all other professions are not so; for when a man comes to sickness or old age or suffering and cannot engage in his profession, he must die of starvation, whereas the Torah is not so, for it guards him from all evil in his youth and gives him a future and hope in his old age. Of his youth what is said? But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength (Isaiah 40:31). Of his old age what is said? They shall still bring forth fruit in old age (Psalm 92:15). And it is also said of our father Abraham: And Abraham was old . . . And the Lord blessed Abraham with everything (Genesis 24:1). We find that Abraham our father observed the whole Torah before it was given, for it is said: Because Abraham obeyed My voice, and kept My charge, My commandments, My statutes, and My laws (Genesis 26:5).