Your Job = Your Identity?

I once knew a man who became depressed after retiring.

I knew another who launched a business the moment he retired. He could not imagine not working.

And I knew a third who worked until his final breath, because the thought of stopping terrified him.

What did they all have in common? Their work was not just something they did. It was who they were. So the idea of not working felt like a loss of identity.

Can you relate?

I am not here to give a lecture on why work should not define you. (Maybe next time, LOL!) The truth is, most of us do connect deeply with our occupation. And we should take pride in that. Earning a living and supporting our families is a mitzvah.

But here is the thing. Our occupation should not end with our job. It should also include something deeper: our purpose, our soul work.

This week, on Lag Baomer, we mark Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai‘s (“Rashbi”) yahrzeit. The Talmud describes him as someone whose Torah was his occupation. Torah was not his hobby or side project. It was his life’s center.

The Talmud tells us that while hiding from the Romans, a miraculous carob tree sustained him for 13 years. Whether or not he held a paying job before or after, Torah was his focus and aspiration.

Following Rashbi’s example might be a wise investment. If AI is coming for our jobs, it might be smart to double down on something eternal. Torah will never be outdated.

The Rebbe offered practical advice on this. He said to set regular times for Torah learning and guard those times like Shabbos. “If the phone rings during learning, you do not answer. It does not matter how urgent it seems. During your learning time, we should not be available, either.”

May we take inspiration from Rashbi – have a happy Lag Baomer!