עֲבוֹדַת בַּעֲלֵי עֲסָקִים מִתְחַלֶּקֶת לִשְׁנֵי סְעִיפִים עִקָּרִים: א) הָעֲבוֹדָה עִם עַצְמוֹ. בְּעֵת עָסְקוֹ מַמָּשׁ בְּשָׁעָה הַפְּנוּיָה, בְּיָשְׁבוֹ בַּחֲנוּת וְכַדּוֹמֶה, יִלְמוֹד מִשְׁנָה מִשְׁנָיוֹת פֶּרֶק תַּנְיָא, וִיהִי לוֹ אֵיזֶה דִּבְרֵי תּוֹרָה, כְּמוֹ חוּמָשׁ מִשְׁנָיוֹת תַּנְיָא, שֶׁיִּהְיֶה בָּקִי בָּהֶם בְּעַל פֶּה, לְמַעַן שֶׁיּוּכַל לַחֲזוֹר עֲלֵיהֶם בְּהָלְכוֹ בָּרְחוֹב, בַּשּׁוּק וְכַדּוֹמֶה. ב) הָעֲבוֹדָה עִם זוּלָתוֹ. בְּעֵת הַדִּבּוּר בְּעִנְיָנֵי עֵסֶק יְסַבֵּב הַדִּבּוּר לְסַפֵּר אֵיזֶה סִפּוּר תּוֹכְנִי, וְלִמְצוֹא עִלָּה וְסִבָּה לְעוֹרֵר עַל דְּבַר לִמּוּד וְכַיּוֹצֵא בָזֶה.

For a businessman, Divine service comprises two main components:

(a) Divine service relating to himself: During free time in the midst of his activities, such as while sitting in his store, he should study a passage of the Mishnah or a chapter of Tanya. He should know certain Torah teachings by heart, such as extracts from Chumash, Mishnayos, Tehillim, or Tanya, so that he can review them while walking in the street, the marketplace and the like.1

(b) Divine service relating toothers: While talking business, he should deftly divert the course of the conversation so that he can relate a story with a message. Likewise, he should find some pretext or reason to encourage his friend to study, or the like.2

Living in This World

One of the Rebbe’s primary messages is that being on shlichus — on an outreach mission — is not restricted to those who do so in a professional capacity. Rather, every Jew is on shlichus. Indeed, as common experience proves, a Jewish businessman can often influence people who are far beyond the reach of the local rabbi. There are many Jews who are not likely to step into a synagogue or House of Study, and may shy away from anyone outwardly identified with Jewish organizations. Yet, if a business associate speaks to them sincerely about Torah subjects, they will listen. And once they listen, the Torah’s inner power will elicit a response. In the words of the Midrash, “The luminary within it will bring them back to a good path.”3