Serving God Through Everyday Work: The Powerful Lesson of Tefillin and True Intention

Many of the great Tannaim earned their livelihood through honest labor and took pride in supporting themselves. Among them were Hillel the Elder, Shammai, who worked as a builder, and Abba Chilkiyah, the grandson of Choni HaMe'agel, who worked as a hired farm laborer.

In Duties of the Heart (Chovot HaLevavot, Gate of Abstinence, Chapter 5), Rabbeinu Bachya cites these examples and explains that a person who must engage in worldly pursuits to earn a living should not see this as contradicting the aspiration to attain spiritual refinement. Why is it possible to pursue both worldly responsibilities and a life of holiness?

Because, he writes, "your intention is to serve God through it."

At first glance, almost every Jew who has experienced the beauty of spirituality while also working for a living would say exactly that: "I work in order to serve God."

If so, why do we not see most of these people reaching the lofty spiritual levels of the great ascetics and saints?

Before answering this question, consider the following well known story that beautifully illustrates the teaching of Duties of the Heart.

The Ohr HaChaim and the King of Morocco

Rabbi Chaim ibn Attar, the renowned Ohr HaChaim, earned his livelihood as a master goldsmith. His craftsmanship and artistic skill were considered among the finest in all of Morocco, and the reputation of his exquisite jewelry eventually reached the king himself.

As one of the king's descendants was preparing for a royal wedding, the king summoned the Ohr HaChaim with a prestigious offer.

"I want you to produce the royal family's jewelry for this occasion. You will be paid handsomely because I know the quality of your work."

To the king's astonishment, the Ohr HaChaim politely declined.

He had established a personal rule for himself. Each week, once he had earned enough money to support his family, he would put away his tools, close his workshop, and devote the remainder of his time entirely to Torah study and serving God.

At that moment, he simply did not need more money. Therefore, he refused to become a servant of the King of Morocco when he preferred to remain a servant of the King of Kings.

The king was furious. He had never heard such a refusal.

He ordered that Rabbi Chaim ibn Attar be thrown into the lions' den in the royal courtyard. The lions were to be deprived of food for two days, and on the third day the rabbi would be lowered into the pit.

Throughout it all, the Ohr HaChaim remained completely calm. His expression never changed as he continued studying Torah and praying as though nothing unusual had happened.

When the third day arrived, the king's servants lowered him into the den.

Instead of hearing the roaring of hungry lions, they were met with complete silence. Peering inside, they saw an astonishing sight.

The lions were circling the righteous sage like gentle lambs, gazing at him with admiration as he sat immersed in Torah, as peacefully as though he were sitting in his own study hall.

The king immediately realized that he had laid hands on a holy man.

He ordered the Ohr HaChaim to be released at once, begged his forgiveness, and swore never again to commit such foolishness, asking only that the man of God not punish him.

The Secret of Tefillin

There are four Torah passages contained within the tefillin. Two of them appear in this week's Torah portion.

However, in the portion of "Sanctify to Me Every Firstborn" (Exodus), the Torah provides an additional reason for wearing tefillin every day: "So that the Torah of the Lord may be in your mouth."

Likewise, in the Leshem Yichud recited before putting on tefillin, we declare that God commanded us to place tefillin on the arm and head in order to subjugate the desires of our heart and the thoughts of our mind to His service. There is no doubt that every act of putting on tefillin has spiritual power.

Why then do we not always notice a positive transformation?

A brief comment in the Mishnah Berurah (25:15), quoting the great Bach, sheds remarkable light on the matter: "The essence of the mitzvah and its fulfillment depends upon the intention a person has while performing it."

When a Jew puts on tefillin, he should consciously intend that this mitzvah weaken the power of his evil inclination and enable him to serve God with greater purity and devotion.

More Than Good Intentions

Earning a livelihood and tending to the needs of this world are not only permitted, they are necessary.

God has countless angels to carry out His will. Yet He desires that human beings serve Him specifically while living within the challenges of this world.

When a Jew begins the workday with a clear and deliberate intention that his labor is itself an act of serving God, and he approaches that intention with the same focus and concentration that he brings to Kiddush or to prayer, its spiritual influence becomes profoundly greater.

The work itself does not change; the person does.