This video shows how the religious practices of Ultra-Orthodox Jews have been accommodated to allow their participation in the IDF. Whatever one’s personal beliefs are about what one should do in times of war I think it does point to something that many could benefit from. And that thing is the power of asking others to consider your needs.
If someone is used to a very controlling environment (and please note I am speaking more on a personal level not about or for the Ultra-Orthodox) it is very easy to just assume things are simply the way they are so if you can’t make something that is being done in a certain context work for you there is no use in attempting it. But here we see people didn’t just assume the personal schedule of the Ultra-Orthodox Jews would be incompatible and try to force them to abandon all of their needs to serve or decide they could not do it at all. They required accommodation and they got some.
So, when you see something that would be of interest to you but something is off, instead of assuming you should write the whole opportunity off as well see if there is something you can do to make it better. Like, ask if you can change how something functions so you can participate without doing anything that would hinder you in following your convictions. Don’t just assume something cannot be changed or that there is no situation in which you could make a difference from the inside.
Of course there are some things that you can’t compromise with. There will be times when you may have to walk away because you can’t really serve God and do something that is expected of you at the same time. You may find some organizations are not in a place that you can redeem by being there or change from the inside and that is okay. But pray about your choices and don’t be too quick to think something cannot be changed. And once in a new job or whatever you decided to do be open to honestly ask yourself and not just others if it is something you can participate in and serve God at the same time. And remember to consider asking for change.
