???? ???? ?? ????? ????? ??? ????. This is a passuk that even the Gentiles around us know. They realize we have a higher standard to live up to. That’s why r”l any misstep gets so publicized. We have a higher calling, it was defined in this week’s parsha. Our careers, to us, are what keeps us able to exist. But we exist for our tafkid. To be a holy people, ?? ????. And ?????? ????, a lifetime of avoda, striving, toiling, and accomplishing in areas that bring us ???? ??? ???? ???.
While there are shitos, opinions in Halacha among the Poskim, it is not for “us to decide when to be machmir”.. And as I’ve pointed out time and again, our calling was about striving to become holier and closer to HaShem, not about how to circumvent our statures, to be always on the lookout to point out a Kula, another lenient position. If one chooses a lifestyle of Kedusha, does it really sting someone else’s eyes?!? And I have a niggling feeling that HaShem is NOT interested in THIS “hishtadlut”. Nope, he doesn’t need it. In fact He’s been at the wheel for quite and number of years, granting parnassa in spite of our “hishtadlut” or lack of thereof.
And YES, it IS possible to deal with the outside world and still retain the same Kedusha. That’s exactly what the world looks up to us for!!! They expect us to stick to out principles, and ADMIRE us for it!!
No, you don’t loose out by being careful in doing HaShem’s Mitzvohs. The world was created for a place to enact His commandments, He certainly provided for it.