Recent studies about employment reveal that the average American switches between 7 – 10 jobs in a lifetime. Among the main reasons for this growing trend is lack of satisfaction from their position. Studies show that close to 70% of Americans hate their job.
Judaism teaches that we should love our jobs, as the Mishna says, “Love work” (Ethics of the Fathers, 1:10). Abarbanel, the medieval commentator who served as treasurer to the King and Queen of Spain at the time of the Spanish Inquisition, explains that the word “love” suggests that we should approach our jobs with immense joy and satisfaction.
What is Judaism's formula for loving your job? Here are three keys:
1. Alignment with your core values
The Talmud (Berachot 43B) teaches that God instills each person with a natural attraction to the trade he is designated to work in.
So, what are you most passionate about? We all have values but which ones resonate most with you? Do you accentuate ambition, contentment, efficiency or creativity?
When aligned properly, our jobs provide the opportunity to live by and promote the values that are most important to us.
2. Alignment with your core skills
The Talmud (Kiddushin 82A) teaches that one should choose a trade that is “light.” One explanation is to avoid jobs that exhaust our energies, stripping us of the physical and emotional energies we need for our personal development, families and other responsibilities outside of work.
The classical work, Duties of the Heart (Gate of Trust, Chapter 3) teaches that each person is created with the skills, characteristics and nature designed for occupation he will work in. Being involved in activities that utilize these skills in conjunction with our personality will imbue us with energy and therefore exemplify a ‘light’ trade.
What are you best at doing? Is it analyzing information, interacting with people or physical activity which is more hands on?
Which types of activities energize you? Are you charged after interacting with people or need some alone time to recharge your batteries? How do you feel after sitting in front of a computer for 5 hours in a comfortable office chair?
Each job position requires a range of tasks and competencies. This key teaches that your job should revolve around those tasks that you excel in and bring vitality.
3. Alignment with your core expression
Rabbi Elazar ben Azarya (Avot of Rabbi Natan, Chapter 21, v.B) praises work because a worker takes pride in his profession. This is not teaching that one’s self esteem should come from one’s job but rather that one’s job is meant to serve as a receptacle for his self-expression in the world.
What light do you bring to the world and how does your presence affect the people around you? Is your job in line with your unique way to improve your surroundings and the people you interact with?
In summary, ensuring that your job is aligned with your values, skills and core expression are vital keys for loving your job. Disalignment in these areas can leave you feeling frustrated, unappreciated, unfulfilled and exhausted!
Some people mistakenly make their career their life mission. Judaism teaches that one’s job is not their life mission but it is meant to serve as a means to express one’s life mission. Done correctly, one’s work is a healthy and natural expression of one’s inner being and core self. In this natural environment we will find ourselves both more fulfilled and successful in our career.
(3) Crystal Huyghe, October 14, 2018 11:58 PM
thank you
Thank you for writing this. I am at a point in my life where I work 3 jobs only one of which I love. The other 2 are just temporary... What was presented in the article is making me rethink my part time jobs...
(2) Anonymous, July 4, 2016 9:19 PM
Interesting! I don't hate my job but often I go without desire or any enthusiasm and leave from the job frustrated... Bzh! Thank you!
(1) Scott, July 4, 2016 3:39 AM
Get a life.
I never had a job I loved. I don't know many people that do. It's what you trade time for to get money to support your real life.
Back in the day before the corporations took over work was a family affair for most Jews. Your family or community did something and work was joining that family business or trade or working at something within the community and work wasn't so seperate from life.
Did the cobbler or butcher or money changer or innkeeper love doing the thing they did? Or did they love doing what they did as a part of the community? Was it that they made shoes or that they shod their neighbors kids and people saw and appreciated what they did? Was it the work or the working with family and community?
Now people go to and office and sit in a cube working for and with strangers that seperate them from community.
What the heck does work/life balance mean? If you really look at that phrase doesn't it imply that when you're working you're not really alive?
I stopped having jobs fifteen years ago. I started my own little cpa practice and now I run a restaurant. I work in community. I did taxes for folks in my community and now I feed them.
I don't enjoy scrubbing toilets or draining the fryer. But I like it when people I know visit my restauraunt. I like my regulars. They say my food is good. I like hiring their kids and feeling like what I do is part of my community.
I don't have work.life balance. I'm in community all the time. I'm alive 24/7. It's just that sometimes my life happens at work.
Sholom, July 4, 2016 8:07 PM
very well put!
I could not agree more with your comments. I've seen so many presentations of the ideas in this article but have never been able to reconcile them with real life. First of all figuring out which specific job is the best match for your core skills and values seems impossible. Second of all, for most people it seems the career they end up with was a result of opportunity.
And at the end of the day I would think for most people making a decent salary for the work you put in is where most of the satisfaction comes from and should be the primary consideration when choosing a job.
I would be interested in a response from the author how to apply these ideas practically.
thank you!
Anonymous, July 7, 2016 1:40 PM
Practical Application
Hello Shalom,
It is true that figuring out which jobs are best matches for our core values and skills takes work but is very much in reach!
In my sessions with clients, I first get a holistic understanding of the individual, his passions, interests, experiences and even family background. A series of evaluations are used to unlock the code of his core work preferences, work personality and work styles. Once these have been revealed, there is an opportunity to look at all jobs with a new pair of glasses. Together we work to evaluate relevant options in the context of the other circumstances of his life.
It is a very empowering experience and gives much insight into why we made previous career decisions and how we can harness our strengths to be most successful in the future.
As for practical advice, I would begin with contemplating the questions presented in the article and then discuss the results with a career counselor or mentor.
Lastly, there is indeed satisfaction to be found in making a decent salary. I hope to address in the future. The stance of this article is that beyond the satisfaction that can come from paying the bills, our jobs have the potential to serve as a vehicle for our unique contribution to those around us!
Tzvi Broker, July 7, 2016 1:26 PM
Thanks for the comment Scott. From your self description I can see that community and making a difference are important values and that you are passionate about helping people in ways connected to these ideals.
It sounds like you did a good job using your working experiences to actualize these values. You are correct that all jobs have aspects that we do not enjoy or draw on skills that are not our strongest. You described well that when our jobs enable us to live in line the big picture of what we are involved in, we can easier manage with those other tasks.
Great job on synthesizing what makes you alive into your work!