How can we know when we should do hishtadlus and when we must have Bitachon? As a rule: When something is within your ability and in your possession is an area where you may not rely on Bitachon. For example, someone cannot say, “I have bitachon that the money in my pocket will just come …
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The Rules of Bitachon (Part 2)
The Shevet of Levi doesn’t have a portion in Eretz Yisroel. They live off the terumah and ma’aser given to them from the rest of the Jewish people. They have a special promise from Hashem that He will make sure they will be taken care of. The Ramba”m takes this further by saying that this …
The Rules of Bitachon (Part 1)
R’ Yisroel Salanter zt”l explains that there are two main opinions regarding Bitachon: The Chovos Halevavos maintains that you must do hishtadlus along with Bitachon Not that Hakodosh Baruch Hu can’t do miracles, rather we just don’t rely on miracles. However, the Ramban is of the opinion that Bitachon is to rely solely on Hashem …
Can a Sinner Have Faith?
Everyone with Bitachon is a believer, but not every believer has Bitachon. The Ramban explains that in order to have Bitachon you must believe in Hashem, otherwise who would you be having faith in? But believing in Hashem does not mean that you have Bitachon. There’s often a doubt in our minds whether we will …
Windows from the Heavens
During the days of Elisha HaNavi, the nation of Aram surrounded the Jewish people in Shomron and started a siege. The people were so starved that they were forced to pay exorbitant prices to obtain even a donkey’s head to eat. Elisha came to the city and announced, “Tomorrow, the a se’ah of flour will …
To Eat or to Sweat?
Continued from previous articles. We have been discussing the importance of enjoying what you have now instead of scrimping and saving for the future. Why did the Torah choose to teach us this lesson specifically by Shmittah? If appears that this was only a one-time challenge. Once the first Shmittah passed, everyone saw how the …
You Must Enjoy Today
Continued from previous article. When the Torah tells us, “You shall eat and be satisfied, and will live securely in the land.” It is not a blessing or a guarantee as it sounds like, it is a command. The Torah commands us to eat until we are full and not to penny-pinch and save up …
Shmittah Conondrum (Pt. 2)
As we mentioned in the previous post, a person can begin worrying about what will be even in the first year of the Shmittah cycle. Such a person is completely losing sight of what Shmittah is. He says his intention is to save up now in order to be able to keep Shmittah properly. But …
Shmittah Conundrum (Pt. 1)
There’s a fascinating pasuk that talks about Shmittah. ואכלתם לשבע, וישבתם לבטח עליה. וכי תאמרו מה נאכל בשנה השביעית, … וצויתי את ברכתי לכם בשנה השש’ת ועשת את התבואה לשלש השנים. (Vayikra 25: 19, 21) “You shall eat and be satisfied, and will live securely in the land. If you will ask, ‘What shall we …
A Wagon of Treasure
The Alshich zt”l once delivered a speech regarding having bitachon without doing any effort. Among the crowd that was listening there was a simple man whose job was to transport materials. When he heard that Hashem sends the same parnassah regardless of effort, he said to himself, “I have to be a fool to keep …
