Bnei Torah – Those who left yeshiva Should be Viewed as Bnei Torah So they will not become worse?

Igros Moshe (YD IV #36. 15) Question: This that you objected to my statement that all those who leave yeshiva for secular studies in college even if they are still fully observant are not considered Bnei Torah. You objected because it means all those who are involved in earning a living by going to college will give up trying to grow in Torah learning if they are not considered Bnei Torah. Answer. I am surprised that you don’t view leaving yeshiva as being more deleterious than not being called a Ben Torah. People will say that if everyone is considered a Ben Torah and Talmid Chachom even those who have left yeshiva for secular studies than why should those remaining in yeshiva exert themselves in Torah and fear of G-d.  This concern is found in the gemora (Menachos 99b) that even through the daily reciting of Shma in the morning and evening a person fulfills the obligation to spend his time in Torah study, nevertheless the gemora concludes that it is prohibited to teach this to the ignorant. Rashi says because they might think the minimum is sufficient and they won’t try harder. It is even worse if the talmidei chachomim think that. .  In fact I am simply saying the facts a person who does not devote himself totally to Torah study is not a ben Torah.  Those who go to medical school they want to be not only doctors but they want the honor of also being viewed as bnei Torah? If in fact he is a godol in Torah than of course he should be described as such even if there is concern that others will imitate him and leave yeshiva thinking they can also have both.  This that you write that there are many businessmen who place the majority of their efforts into Torah study so why shouldn’t they be viewed as bnei Torah? I have already stated that they while are obviously good Jews they are not bnei Torah since all their efforts are not directed at Torah.  It was only the Jews in the wilderness and that generation that entered Israel with Yehoshua as well as the generation of Chezkiyahu that all were bnei Torah. Even in the time of Dovid and Shlomo not all were bnei Torah. Even in the time of Chezkiyahu only two of the tribes were bnei Torah. 

This reminds me of a chance encounter I had with a kiruv rabbi during a stop over in the Paris airport. He said "I can not forgive the rabbis and roshei yeshiva who tell everyone that they will become a gadol when in fact only a few have the ability. 

The head of the Diaspora yeshiva Rav Goldstein related that he was once in America raising money for his yeshiva and he met Rav Moshe. Rav Moshe asked him “How are you doing?” He responded byrelating a list of his medical problems. Rav Moshe said I wasn’t asking about your health, I was asking whether you had some real concerns in understanding a Rashi or Tosfos.