Earning a Living — Earning a Life

Parshat Beshalach 5767
Essay #20
Breslov Research Institute © 2007

Choosing a Career

We learned in last week's essay that the main hishtadlut anyone can do for parnassah (livelihood)—or, for that matter, for everything else in life—is tefillah (prayer). Indeed, this week’s Torah reading (Exodus 14:10) describes: “Pharaoh drew near; the Children of Israel lifted their eyes and behold! The Egyptians were traveling after them, and they were very afraid and cried out to God.” Rashi explains, “They adapted the craft of their ancestors—prayer.” The craft of prayer has sustained the Jewish people for thousands of years.

Yet even with prayer, we still have to go out to work. The choice of careers is mind-boggling. Will we choose a trade—electrician, plumber, carpenter, etc.? What about a profession—accountant, lawyer, engineer? Then there's the medical field—general practitioner, dentist, psychiatrist, alternative medicine, witch doctor, and so on. Maybe we should go into education, social services or welfare? Open a store or become a manufacturer, importer/exporter, stocks and bonds trader, etc.? How about becoming a common thief or a slick operator, reading tarot cards or becoming the ultimate goniff—a politician who “serves” his country? The list is endless. Because God is Infinite, the possibilities for earning a living are endless too.

Our Sages teach that several things are hidden from a person, one of which is, “A person does not know with what he can profit” (Pesachim 54b). If everyone knew which item would be the “hot" item of the year, we would all focus on that area and ignore all the others. Therefore God created many, many sources of income.

There is one sure way to find the career or profession that is right for you, and that is by receiving the right advice. One who receives the right advice can always earn a living and make a profit, while one who receives the wrong advice will find himself losing.

Rebbe Nachman teaches that when we have perfected our faith in the tzaddikim, we can always find the correct advice. Tzaddikim direct us to the proper paths of Torah (which itself is a guide for proper living). By studying the teachings of the tzaddikim and accepting their guidance, we learn to choose the proper path. If we don’t accept their advice, our minds will become polluted with incorrect understanding of Torah, and we will lack the ability to choose correctly (Likutey Moharan I, 61).

Reb Noson reviews these ideas in the following manner (adapted from Likutey Halakhot, Sukkah 7):

The advice which anyone needs to succeed in this world is the correct advice of what to do at all times, in all places and in all situations. We all need advice to attain both our short-term and long-term goals, but the main advice we should seek is for our long-term objectives. Our focus should always be on attaining the Eternal World, the World to Come, which we can achieve by studying Torah and fulfilling the mitzvot. Any and all advice a person asks for should always be geared to the long-term goal. In this way we can literally gain a lifetime success, an eternal life, forever and ever.

But we still have to get through life in this world. And here’s where it gets quite sticky. If we have blemished our faith—especially our faith in the tzaddikim—we will always be of “two minds.” First we think we have to do one thing; we clarify the reasons for doing it this way and set our minds to the task. But then, somehow, we entertain another thought and become convinced that it is the better idea. Then again, we’re not so sure…

Such indecisiveness stems from the sin of Adam. When Adam was banished from the Garden of Eden, God placed at the entrance to the Garden a “revolving sword” (Genesis 3:24). This revolving sword represents all the thoughts and ideas in a man's head that keep turning and twisting back and forth, never giving him peace of mind or letting him be sure that his decisions are the correct ones.

When it comes to earning a living, what advice works? Obviously, writes Reb Noson, an idea such as stealing cannot be considered advice. The person who follows that kind of advice opens himself up to suffering and death even in this world, and descends to Gehinnom in the next. Secondly, if a person does figure out how to make money but doesn't use that money ultimately for serving God, then that money will bury him too. Of course you should use your money to live and enjoy the fruits of your labors. But the focus of earning money should be on spiritual growth, such as giving charity, Torah study, honoring Shabbat, and anything else which will enhance your spiritual attainments.

Therefore, when it comes to deciding which career among many to choose from, we first have to think about how we are going to serve God in the mayhem of work. How much time can we devote to Torah study and prayer each day? How we are going to observe Shabbat under the time and financial pressures of short Fridays and weekday Festivals? By focusing upon God and our long-term goals, we will put ourselves in a much better position to fulfill our short-term goals of earning a living.

More about this next week, God willing.

(This past Shabbat, my wife and I were guests of relatives in a fancy hotel in Jerusalem. The morning meal featured a huge buffet of salads. My wife called it “The Paradise of Salads.” I replied, “Then just imagine what salads you’ll be getting in the Garden of Eden!” It can happen to all of us! As we read about the manna in this week's Torah portion, may we all merit to Heavenly food. Amen.)