Are We Obsessed with Work? - A Taste of Text—Vayakhel

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Are We Obsessed with Work?: A Taste of Text—Vayakhel

Do you define yourself by who you are, or by what you do?

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By Chana Weisberg

Chana Weisberg is the editor of TheJewishWoman.org. She lectures internationally on issues relating to women, relationships, meaning, self-esteem and the Jewish soul. She is the author of six books. Her latest book, Shabbat Delights, is a two-volume series on the weekly Torah portion.

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10 Comments

Stacia Tennessee February 25, 2022

This is EXACTLY what I needed! Thanks so much, Chana, for helping me see that work has a place, but shouldn’t be my identity. Reply

T Y March 7, 2021

Very beautiful. Thank you for sharing Reply

Dietz Ziechmann Cleveland Heights April 29, 2018

Thank you for this elucidation. Todah. Reply

Alicia Madrid February 29, 2016

So grateful I used to work so much, too much, everyday, till something bad happened. Now I have realized how important, to get closer to G-d and to my beloved, is having a free day, to rest properly my mind. After taking that breath, everything is more clear and defined. Thanks, to remind us. Reply

Kate Brisbane February 21, 2014

Thanks I really needed to listen to the lesson this week - I have been struggling with feelings of inadequacy and have always suspected that it was rooted in placing too much weight in "what" I do, rather than my attitude and intent and dedication to do everything as unto G-d. Reply

Anonymous Austin, TX March 15, 2012

Question In the handout, in the section by Rambam from the Laws of Idolatry, the individual mentioned is the son of Seth, right? I know the translations vary, but usually the man in the 3rd generation is called Enosh in English, while the 7th generation man, the son of Jared (in English), is named Enoch. The handout refers to the former doesn't it? Reply

chana weisberg Thornhill March 14, 2012

to mina That's a very interesting thought and I do agree with you. We are SO obsessed with validation. But did you ever notice something interesting? The more validation we seem to be giving as a society, the more we seem to thirst for it and need it. So maybe what we are all really missing is more of this sense of "being" and if we had that real sense of being, we wouldn't need to be constantly "doing" for the sake of validation, but we would feel an inherent sense of self-worth. I wonder what you'll think of this article: Why Hasn't the Self-Esteem Movement Givne us Self-Esteem www.chabad.org/1073778 Reply

mina bklyn, NY? USA March 13, 2012

obsession Thanks so much for your wonderful classes. i feel that we all in this day and age have an obsession with validation. Just a thought. Reply

ANNETTE HAYES Sacramento, California March 11, 2012

ARE WE OBSESSED WITH WORK? Wonderful, wonderful text. I enjoyed this talk with Chana and the ladies SO MUCH. So much did I earn and realize about who I am... THAT WHAT I DO IS NOT WHO I AM. I am so grateful for this video and Chabad...THANK YOU EVERYONE!! Oh, by the way, I have shared this video with others.
SHALOM Reply

Gil Great Neck, NY/U.S.A. March 11, 2012

Work "By your deeds shall ye be known." Isaiah " Idle hands are the devil's playmates." Your question: "Who are you? can be answered many different ways - And each answer can be philosophically, gramatically, hallachically, and technically correct. It all depends upon what the interrogator has as a preconceived notion. Sometimes a simple title such as rabbi, doctor, professor, may suffice. Further elucidation may further define the individual being questioned. Nothing at all may be inferred that the individual is "obsessed." Reply

Are We Obsessed with Work?: A Taste of Text—Vayakhel

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