Tomech Torah

R' Chaim Volozhiner, in his peirush on Avos, Ruach Chaim makes a very nice point which opened my eyes to a subject that I had considered a bit difficult.

 "Chaim he lamachazikim bah V'etomcheha M'eushar". R' Chaim explains that there are 2 kinds of people (there are many variations of this throughout kabbala and nigleh) chesed/gevurah or ahava/yirah. Eitz Chaim He lamachazikim buh is discussing one who uses the Torah as a life saving device and clings on to it as someone who is overboard in the ocean clinging to a life raft. This person realizes that the only thing that can save him is Torah and his life depends on it. This is a very high level. However, there is a higher level and that is "Ve'tomchehah M'eushar" One who is a "Tomech" of Torah, that is to say one who lives as if the Torah needs his support and he clings to Torah for ITS sake not his own, that is the darga of Ahava.

This might explain the wonderful things Chazal say about a tomech torah. They are not talking about one who lives his life like a pig and just supports Torah financially. They are talking about one who does whatever is in his power to support something he loves, whether it be learning the Torah, financially supporting it, marrying in to a torah supporting environment, etc. It is all about his attitude and his show of love for it. You cannot claim to love and support a lifestyle that is diametrically opposed to your lifestyle by merely financially supporting it.