‘God, I've done something positive in your world’: work motivations among ultra-Orthodox Jewish men in Israel

The integration of ultra-Orthodox Jewish men into the Israeli workforce represents a significant social transition. Based on semi-structured interviews with 15 ultra-Orthodox men who transitioned from full-time religious study to work, this article examines their work motivations. The analysis revealed five different motivational categories: Livelihood (satisfying basic economic needs), Enjoyment (satisfaction from work), Honor (gaining respect through the profession), Fulfillment (realizing personal potential), and Religion (performing work as a religious commandment). While previous research has emphasized economic necessity as the primary driver of labor force participation among ultra-Orthodox men, this study reveals a more complex interplay of practical, personal, and religious motivations. The findings extend the existing theoretical framework of work orientation by highlighting religious motivation as a distinct category and showing how ultra-Orthodox men reconstruct their meaning when transitioning from religious study to secular employment. The study contributes to understanding work motivation in religious contexts and has implications for developing culturally sensitive workplace integration programs.