In your Iyun Hadaf you explain very nicely the story of Ilfa and R' Yochonan. You fail to mention an option that might have been available to them that they didn't seem to have considered. Can you explain why they didn't?
Kol Tuv,
alex lebovits, toronto, canada
Dear Alex,
Hello there and thanks for your question. I think that in this case both of them knew their own potential that they were capable of becoming the Rosh Yeshivah, neither wanted to part with it. The issue was how to survive until then. (As Rashi points out, once one was appointed Rosh Yeshivah his financial needs were taken care of.) Thus they felt that it was permissible for them to interrupt their studies for a brief hiatus which would enable them to return to their studies later on and eventually be appointed Rosh Yeshivah. This was a mistake. (Also see Rambam Hilchos Talmud Torah 3:7.)
All the best.
Y. Landy