Can Torah Learning Unlock Professional Success?

Another timely lesson from this week's Pirkei Avos

Each chapter of Pirkei Avos is filled with insights that are just as relevant to our modern lives as they were in the times of Chazal. Whether it’s about work, relationships, or personal growth, the wisdom of Avos speaks to our everyday struggles and aspirations.

One such teaching appears in the third chapter (Mishna 5):

רבי נחוניא בן הקנה אומר:
כל המקבל עליו עול תורה מעבירין ממנו עול מלכות ועול דרך ארץ, וכל הפורק ממנו עול תורה נותנין עליו עול מלכות ועול דרך ארץ

Rabbi Nechunia ben Hakanah says: Whoever accepts upon himself the yoke of Torah, the yoke of government and worldly concerns is removed from him. But whoever casts off the yoke of Torah, the yoke of government and worldly concerns is placed upon him.

Let’s focus on one line in particular:

"כל המקבל עליו עול תורה מעבירים ממנו עול דרך ארץ"
Whoever accepts upon himself the yoke of Torah, the yoke of worldly concerns is removed from him.

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Rabeinu Yonah’s Take: Less Work, More Blessing

Rabeinu Yonah offers a powerful explanation:

"ועול דרך ארץ - לא יצטרך לעשות מלאכה הרבה לצורך פרנסתו ובמעט יספיק לו לכדי חיותו. כי מלאכת הצדיק מתברכת, ונפשו שמחה בחלקו"

“The burden of worldly concerns: he will not need to work excessively for his livelihood, and a little will suffice for his needs. For the labor of the righteous is blessed, and his soul rejoices in his portion.”

He concludes by referencing another well-known Mishna:

"איזהו עשיר? השמח בחלקו"
Who is wealthy? One who is happy with his lot.

So how does Torah learning connect to happiness with one’s lot?

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It's Not Just About Faith

At first glance, one might say it all comes down to emunah. If you believe that God runs the world, then you trust He gives you exactly what you need. That trust brings peace of mind and reduces stress about money, status, or success.

But this Mishna doesn’t speak directly about faith. It talks about accepting the yoke of Torah—actively immersing oneself in Talmud Torah. So what’s the deeper connection?

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Torah Changes the Learner

One possible answer is that Torah isn’t just a subject we study or a ritual we fulfill. When engaged with sincerely, it becomes a part of who we are. It reshapes our identity, our desires, and the way we see the world.

Rav Soloveitchik expresses this beautifully:

“Through Torah learning, a person is transformed. The Torah purifies and sanctifies him. It removes coarseness and replaces it with gentleness. Shallow thinking gives way to depth. Spiritual strength expands, and moral clarity comes into sharper focus. The learner is crowned with a regal presence.”
(Shiurim L’Zecher Abba Mari z”l, vol. 2, p. 20)

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From Pressure to Peace

When someone truly immerses themselves in Torah, they don’t just gain knowledge—they gain perspective. They begin to value inner growth over outward success. They stop measuring life by salary, titles, or square footage.

And in that shift, something powerful happens:
They stop chasing, and start appreciating.

Torah doesn’t simply tell us to be content.
It makes us into people who are.