Earning a Living — Earning a Life

Parshat Yitro 5767 — February 4, 2007
Essay #21
Breslov Research Institute © 2007

Choosing a Career-II

We have learned that most people are reincarnated to rectify the sparks of holiness to which they are connected (Essay #4). Because of this reincarnation, some people are drawn to certain lusts and desires, while others with different natures are inherently drawn to other lusts and desires. The very same idea applies to a career. Some people are drawn to specific areas of employment, and others to other areas of employment, because of their natural inclination towards the sparks of holiness that lie in those trades or professions.

Of course, when choosing a career, a person should select a field he feels interested in. After all, he'll probably end up spending the next 40 to 50 years doing that type of work, so he may as well choose something he'll be happy with. But in truth, a person's leanings toward a specific career have more to do with the sparks of holiness that he must rectify.

This idea dovetails with our Sages' teaching about the things that are hidden from a person, one of which is, “A person does not know with what he can profit” (Pesachim 54b; see previous Essay #20). If everyone knew which item would be the “hot" item of the year, we would all focus on that area and ignore the others. Therefore God created many, many sources of income and avenues for employment, so that each person can work in his “designated” field and contribute to the rectification of the sparks that are assigned to his or her soul and mission.

If a person is naturally drawn toward a certain area of work, however, why do people have so many problems earning a living? Why is it such an ordeal to find employment, especially for those with little experience and even for those who have decades of experience but are now considered too old to compete with younger employees? Why is it so hard for some people to hold down a job? Why are some people (almost always the “less qualified”!) bumped up the promotion ladder very quickly, while others are passed over for years? This “schlemiel” makes a fortune; that brilliant student goes nowhere and is always in need, etc. The questions are endless, the answers even less forthcoming. But all has to do with our mission in life.

In this week’s Torah reading, Yitro suggests to Moshe the way to identify the people who are worthy of being judges: “You shall see able men, those who fear God, men of truth, those who hate injustice” (Exodus 18:21). Actually, all business should be conducted based on these attributes. Our first attitude towards work and earning a living should be one of honesty and integrity. We should make up our minds to keep our word and be scrupulous about the price we pay and the price we charge. We should also be God-fearing. When faced with temptation to overcharge or take advantage, we should remember that God is watching (and He is much more meticulous than we think). Truthfulness is the first attribute we should cultivate when pursuing a career.

The next important attribute is observance of Torah law. We must choose a profession or trade that allows us to keep Shabbat and Festivals. Many countries now have laws that protect the rights of religious employees, but these should not be relied upon as a first line of defense for keeping Shabbat. Moreover, our livelihood cannot endanger our observance of kashrut, and we must try to find a job that allows us time to study Torah and daven. Not all jobs or employers acknowledge the importance of these ideals, so it is up to us to place them on our top-priority lists.

We should also be wary of a career that helps us support our families and our physical needs while taking us further and further away from self-growth and long-term spiritual goals. For example, lawyers, doctors and accountants are generally given the longest, most tedious jobs when they first enter their careers. These long hours are always at the expense of Torah study and, to a large extent, quality family time. Shalom bayit (marital harmony) must be nurtured continually, lest love stagnate and grow old. A young married person who has to work 16-hour (or longer) days clerking or interning will find it difficult to build normal relationships with his or her spouse and children. The same applies to people who own their own businesses, to some workers in the trades, and so on.

Since these difficulties can last for several years before the worker becomes a full-fledged member of the tax-paying human (rat) race, with normal hours and opportunities for spiritual devotions, Rebbe Nachman offers a novel solution based on our Sages’ dictum, “Kavata itim laTorah—Did you set times for Torah?” (Shabbat 31a). Reb Noson describes:

I heard in Rebbe Nachman’s name that he reproved someone who had told him that he had no time to learn because he was involved in business. The Rebbe said that nonetheless, it behooved him to grab some time every day to be involved in Torah. He said that this is what our Sages said: A person is asked [in the Heavenly Tribunal, after he passes away], “Did you set (KaVAta) times for Torah?” The term KeVA (set) connotes “stealing,” as it is written (Proverbs 22:23), “and rob (KaVA) the life of those who rob them.” Meaning: they ask the person if he stole time from the time in which he was busy with his affairs. For a person must grab and steal times for Torah from his daily concerns and affairs (Likutey Moharan I, 284).

Thus, the criteria for choosing a career and earning an honest living depend on our leanings towards a specific area of work, together with the spiritual priorities we place upon our responsibilities to ourselves, our spouses and our families.

We should also remember that our choices are not fixed in stone. What seems important and worthwhile at age 20 may not seem so at age 30, 40, or later on in life. A career change is always possible, and most times it works out for the best. This is as Rebbe Nachman teaches, “Never despair!”—we can always “repent” and change our ways!

Have a great week. Chaim