Let Your Springs Flow Outward And Hillel On Scattering And Gathering Torah

(Proverbs 5:16): "Let your springs flow outward, streams of water in the open squares" — Rabbi Elazar said: If you have seen a generation to whom the words of Torah are precious, "let your springs flow outward"; but if not — (Proverbs 5:17): "let them be for yourself alone, and not for strangers with you." Hillel the Elder says: At the time of gathering in, scatter; and at the time of scattering, gather in. At the time when you see that the Torah is precious to Israel and all rejoice in it — you, scatter; this is what is written (Proverbs 11:24): "There is one who scatters, and yet increases more." And at the time when you see that the Torah is forgotten by Israel and not all pay heed to it — you, gather it in, as it is said (Psalms 119:126): "It is a time to act for the LORD; they have made void Your Torah." Rabbi Meir says: "They have made void Your Torah" — "it is a time to act for the LORD."