My Story

My Story:

Fortunately, I had the opportunity to go through the "Yeshiva system" from elementary school through Bais Medrash. Although it was difficult at times, I slowly but surely developed a strong foundation in Torah and Mitzvos.

Not only that, but after I came back from learning in Eretz Yisrael for two years, I wanted to devote my entire life to Torah study and growing in Yiddishkeit. I realized that for me, at least, working most of the day and an hour of learning wasn't going to cut it; I wanted more!

So, I, like many other Yeshivah guys, decided to go to Kollel after I got married. I was officially a "3 to 5-year learner," but deep down, I wanted to push it as long as possible, thinking more like ten years or even for life!

The first couple of years of learning in Kollel were great. However, I started to worry about parnasah and supporting a family. It seemed like there were only two paths, chinuch or work; stay in the Yeshiva world and fulfill my learning dreams or go to work and be a Baal HaBayis.

Facing this decision was not fun. I started to doubt my learning abilities and believed that it's not practical to devote a significant amount of time to Torah study once life gets busy. So, I started to lose my motivation to learn in Kollel, and I even began to feel some resistance. It was time to move on, get a job, and settle down as a working Baal HaBayis while learning on the side when I get a chance.

Well, something in me didn't want to give in so quickly. I started to question myself and say maybe I wanted to leave Kollel because of the physical sacrifice required. What if I'm supposed to stay in Kollel, and I'm just looking for the easy way out? What if I have something unique to give Klal Yisrael, and I'm just looking the other way? I had to get to the bottom of this!

I wanted to face this problem head-on and figure it out. So, I opened up to a couple of trustworthy and understanding people that I knew to guide me through this vital decision.

The process of speaking out my feelings and accepting my mentors' feedback led me to a monumental breakthrough. I realized that I was waiting for other people to work things out for me. I wasn't taking responsibility for what I felt I needed to do in my life. I was blaming "the system" for all of my problems.

The real kicker was that I didn't take responsibility because I had a damaging and limiting belief. I had a deep-seated idea that I'm not capable, I need other people to do everything for me, and I can't do it myself"!

Once I truly understood that I was responsible for my Avodas Hashem and nobody else would do it for me, I began taking action! It was like the end of a long winter, and the trees started to sprout, and the plants started to grow. Finally, I felt that I could build my garden in the large forest of Klal Yisrael. I can fulfill my obligations to the creator of the world.

I went from blaming to solving!

From excuses to action!

From doubting to trusting!

From pessimism to optimism!

And uncertainty to confidence!

Since then, I earned a master's degree online and began to research and pursue the possibility of making a sufficient income while maintaining a flexible schedule. Along my journey, I discovered that the world is changing so fast, and not only are there options to work online, but it is becoming the norm.

If you were hoping for a picture-perfect ending, I'm sorry, but life is not supposed to be perfect, and neither was the ending of this chapter in my life. This story doesn't end with me making millions of dollars of passive income and learning all day, never having to work again.

Instead, this story ends with the beginning of a new life, a new passion, and a new purpose. The recognition that life begins when we take on the responsibility to start and continues when we stand up after falling.

I'm on a personal mission to earn a living while maintaining a high level and significant amount of time serving Hashem. It will take hard work, consistency, and developing the right skills; however, it is possible with the right mindset!

Thank you for reading my story!