Dies ist der Weg der Tora: Ein Laib mit Salz sollst du essen und Wasser nach Maß sollst du trinken, und auf dem Boden wirst du schlafen, und ein Leben in Not wirst du leben, und in der Tora wirst du arbeiten. Und wenn du das tust—Sie haben Glück und es ist gut für Sie. Sie haben Glück in dieser Welt und es ist gut für Sie in der kommenden Welt. Suche nicht nach Größe für dich selbst und sehne dich nicht nach Ehre. Mehr als dein Lernen, tu es! Und sehne dich nicht nach dem Tisch der Fürsten. Denn dein Tisch ist größer als der ihre, und deine Krone ist größer als der ihre, und deinem Meister wird vertraut, dass er dir den Lohn deiner Arbeit zahlt.
Rashi on Avot
Eat bread with salt: It is not saying it about the wealthy one that he should place himself in a life of pain in order to study Torah. But rather, this is what it is saying: Even if a person only has bread with salt, etc. and he does not have a pillow and blanket to sleep [on], but rather [must sleep] on the ground, he should not refrain from involvement in [Torah study]; as in the end, he will study it in wealth.
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English Explanation of Pirkei Avot
Such is the way [of a life] of Torah: you shall eat bread with salt, and rationed water shall you drink; you shall sleep on the ground, your life will be one of privation, and in Torah shall you labor. If you do this, “Happy shall you be and it shall be good for you” (Psalms 128:2): “Happy shall you be” in this world, “and it shall be good for you” in the world to come. This mishnah teaches the way of life of one who is totally dedicated to the study of Torah, so much so that he neglects his worldly, material needs. His life will be one of privation. He will eat little and sleep on the hard floor. Paradoxically this seemingly poor life, will in actuality be one of great happiness and reward. The materially deprived Torah scholar will be happy in this world for he will fall so in love with the study of Torah that nothing else will matter. In the world to come he will be justly rewarded for his efforts. Others explain that this mishnah as a warning to the rich, that their delights in worldly pleasures may make it more difficult for them to learn Torah. For once a person becomes too accustomed to worldly pleasures, that person will need to work harder and harder to earn more money to keep up his extravagant lifestyle. This excessive work will make it impossible for him to learn Torah. [Note how big of a problem this is still in our society. People work harder and harder to earn more and more money, yet no matter how much money they have, they are not satisfied. It is a rare person who finally says, “I have enough” and turns his attention to things more important than earning money. The people who are able to do so, are often greatly admired by our society, a society which rarely can deny material pleasure.]
