Rabbi Zvi Hirsch Horowitz, who succeeded his father, Rabi Pinchas Horowitz (author of Sefer Hafla’ah) as rabbi of Frankfurt, relates in his book of sermons Lahmei Torah, “I heard my father explain the question: Kava’ata ittim Latorah (generally translated: Did you fix times for the study of Torah?) which – according to the Talmud Shabbath (31a) – man is asked when arraigned for judgment in the next world. Its meaning is did you steal time for Torah. The verb Kove’a has here the same meaning as in Proverbs 22:23 Man is asked: Did you steal time (from your work or business in which you had to engage all day in order to make a living) to study Torah?
Actually Rabbi Pinhas Horowitz himself mentions this interpretation in his introduction to the Hafla’ah on Kethubbot.
Interestingly, Rabbi Nahman of Bratslav, a contemporary of Rabbi Pinhas Horowitz, interpreted the above question in the same manner.
Rabbi Nathan Steinhartz, the devoted disciple and scribe of Rabbi Nahman, writes in Likkutei Moharan (par. 284): “I heard that our master reproved a man, who told him that because of his preoccupation with his business affairs he had no time to study Torah. The master told him that he must steal time from his concerns in order to study Torah. He added – referring to Mishlei 22:23- that this was the meaning of the questions: Kava’ata ittim LaTorah, mentioned by our sages: Did you steal time (from your work) for Torah?*
Rabbi Nathan Sternhartz refers also to this interpretation of Rabbi Nahman of Bratslav in a letter to his son- Shakne:
“My dear son. You are acting like a fool. When, at long last, will you take time off every day to meditate on your takhlit, your destiny? Don’t you see what’s going on in the world. The years go by. Our days pass like a fleeting shadow, and if not now- when? What do all the worries about making a living help you. Wouldn’t it be better if you would rob some time to implore the L-rd to send parnassa to your body and soul; this will certainly be of help to you in this world and in the next. Also steal some time for Torah as our master explained the question: Kava’ata ittim LaTorah…” (Alim LiTerufa, New York, 1955 p. 69).
Recently I came across this saying in yet another book. Rabbi Yekuthiel Yehuda Gruenwald, son of Rabbi Moshe Gruenwald (Rabbi of Huszt and author of Arugat HaBosem) wrote in his will (printed in Kuntres Zikhron Av):
“Our sages said (Sanhedrin 7a) that the first thing for which man is judged in the next world is neglect of the study of Torah. For this reason I ask you my dear sons and my offspring – those who are with us and those who are not – to fix times for learning Torah. Even if you are occupied with big business deals and the evil inclination tries to persuade that you have no free time– don’t listen! Steal time for Torah study! This is the reason why the question man is going to be asked is phrased : Kava’ata ittim Latorah and not Lamadta Torah: i.e., even if one is preoccupied with big business he must steal time from his work, in order to study Torah.” He then refers to Proverbs 22:23 regarding the meaning of Kava’ata.
*Likuttei Maharan is quoted by Y.Y. Hasida in his “Be’urei HaHasidut LeShas” (Mossad HaRav Kook, 1975) p. 93. Rabbi Nathan Sternhartz writes that later he discovered this interpretation having been offered also by Rabbi Pinhas Horowitz.
The Jewish Press, Friday, Oct. 19, 1990 p. 20