Parshas Bamidbar and Naso detail the duties of the three clans of the tribe of Levy. The cohanim are descendants of Kehoth but are considered a separate group. One of the jobs of the cohanim is to disassemble the Tabernacle, when it is to be moved, and to carry the ark which contains the two tablets of the Ten Commandments. The job of the Kohathites is to carry the other sacred objects and their utensils. The clan of Gershon is to carry the tarps and ropes. Merari is to carry the heavy beams, pillars, and bases. It is forbidden for one clan to do the work of another clan and at times a specific task is assigned by name to a specific person. In the Temple most of the duties of the priests was forbidden to be performed by a layman. The Leviim were to be gatekeepers and singers, and it was forbidden for them to exchange tasks.
When discussing the blessings given by Isaac to his two sons, Rabbi Uziel Milevsky at Yeshiva Or Somayach explained that Jacob was to be the scholar and social activist and Esau was to be the businessman and philanthropist. If Yaakov misused his excellence in ethics, Esav, was permitted to rebel. If Esau misused his wealth, Yaakov was permitted to work. The reason the blessing had to be stolen was to remind Yaakov that any money received from ordinary labor, to a certain extent was tricked out of Esav.
A similar sentiment is expressed in the Talmud. On the fast of the Ninth of Av a Jew should be in synagogue lamenting the destruction of the Temple and the tragedies that have fallen on the Jewish people throughout the ages. While ordinary work is not forbidden, Rabbi Akiba states that no benefit will ever be derived from its profit (see Taanit 30b).
The prophet Micha is much more trenchant about this idea. He rebukes the nation of Israel for idolatry, which in this case means acceptance of foreign values, customs, and occupations while rejecting HaKadosh Baruch Hu and His Torah. He states, “All of this trash will be pulverized, its gifts burnt, the aggravation a desolation for as a gift to a prostitute it was gathered and like a gift to a prostitute it will be returned”, (Micha 1:7). Trash and aggravation are pejoratives for the word idol. The Gemara (Avoda Zara 17a) comments on this verse that just as it came from a dirty place, it will return to a dirty place. In other words this is considered by heaven to be dirty money therefore it invites anger and destruction.
The idea is that the national mission of Israel is to bring holiness into a profane world, and this extends to each and every Jew. A Jew can be a computer programmer, truck driver, or doctor to support himself in order to engage in this sacred task. However if livelihood, science, or foreign culture become a pursuit for their own sake it is reckoned as an act of prostitution. Like the other prophets, Micha ends on an optimistic note. The errors of Israel are seen as a passing stage on the road to perfection. Israel will ultimately accept their true mission in the world. G-d will forgive them because He does not stay angry forever rather He delights in kindness and will show truth to Jacob and love to Abraham as He swore to our fathers in the days of old.
לע"נ האמא מלכה בת חיים ז"ל נלב"ע טז ניסן תשנ"ח
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