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Translator's Introduction

Part A: Letters

Part B: Talks

   78.
Why was Yosef punished for placing his trust in the royal butler,
for preparing a natural means through which he could be released from the dungeon?

79.
Regardless of everything, Yaakov Avinu went on his way
with a light heart and in high spirits, because he had trust in the One Above.

80.
Even if until that moment such a person was tainted by idolatry,
or perhaps a tinge of it, when Pesach eve arrives he can have complete trust that "now
the Omnipresent has brought us near to His service."

81.
So long as the Yeshivah is their home, students should immerse themselves in their Torah studies
and not be concerned with questions as to how they will eventually earn a living.

82.
The Rebbe Maharash answers his own question:
"People are not lacking a livelihood; they are lacking trust.
Every individual is indeed provided with a livelihood. It's only that by lacking trust,
a person sometimes turns off the tap...."

83.
"Even a little guy like me gave tzedakah to a bedraggled stranger!"

84.
The first time Adam saw nightfall,
he discovered that a man is able to diffuse light even when the world around him is dark.

85.
Before the Sea Splits: Four Responses to the Crises of This World

86.
Faith and Trust

87.
A Jewish farmer "believes in Him Who is the Life
of all the worlds - and sows."

88.
From the Mouths of Babes: Three Modes of Trust

89.
When one has trust in the One on High,
he also has trust in his fellow Jews.

90.
Once the beleaguered King Chizkiyahu heard the words of Yeshayahu,
he placed his trust so completely in the Hands of G-d that he lay down in bed...
for a sweet and tranquil slumber.

91.
Even Bread from the Earth comes from Heaven.

92.
G-d will provide him with all his needs even if he has not yet
tackled his task for the month of Elul - repentance.
Indeed, it applies because he is in that state.

93.
G-d's army - and in our context, the Israel Defense Forces,
whose privilege it is to defend Jewish towns with actual self-sacrifice...

94.
Yosef turned to the Chief Butler
as if his whole salvation depended on him - and this constituted his sin.

95.
This arousal included a heightened trust that Divine Providence
supervises the particulars of every individual's life,
and this in turn empowered the chassid to decide what to do and how to act.

96.
"In G-d we trust" means that one regards G-d as his trustee:
one hands everything over into His Hands and relies on Him in all one's affairs.

97.
When a child is born, his sustenance is born together with him.
Indeed, the birth of an additional child increases the sustenance of the entire household.

98.
The commandment to "be fruitful and multiply" should be fulfilled in a spirit in which G-d's blessings
of sons and daughters are received "with joy and a gladsome heart."

99.
Trusting in G-d does Not Contradict the Belief that Everything is for the Good.

100.
Exactly What is Meant by the Obligation to Trust in G-d?

"A Weighty Task Indeed"
A Thought from the Rebbe Rashab

"When there is still a straw to hang on to"
A Thought from the Rebbe Rayatz

In Good Hands
100 Letters and Talks of the Lubavitcher Rebbe
Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson
on Bitachon: Trusting in G-d
Part B: Talks
92.
G-d will provide him with all his needs even if he has not yet
tackled his task for the month of Elul - repentance.
Indeed, it applies because he is in that state.
Compiled and Translated by Uri Kaploun

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  91.
Even Bread from the Earth comes from Heaven.
Search this book:
93.
G-d's army - and in our context, the Israel Defense Forces,
whose privilege it is to defend Jewish towns with actual self-sacrifice...  

To[634] have bitachon means that having placed one's trust in G-d, one is certain that he will succeed in his affairs. Moreover, the individual with bitachon is certain that G-d will provide him with as much as he needs of whatever he needs. And since the Children of Israel are "the sons of kings"[635] - or, according to another version,[636] "kings" - G-d will grant him his needs in their entirety, as is appropriate for kings.

In this train of thought, the Gemara teaches[637] that an employer should stipulate that his commitment to provide meals for his hired laborer extends only as far as bread and lentils. Otherwise, even "a banquet of Solomon at his finest hour" would not suffice, for though this employee is a common laborer, he is a son of Avraham, Yitzchak and Yaakov, and a king. Moreover, he resembles Shlomo HaMelech,[638] who did not have to go to any trouble to secure his meal. After all, even a dignitary who has been appointed to lead his community is not permitted to perform common work. How much more would this apply to a king, and in particular to Shlomo HaMelech, of whom it is written that "he sat on the throne of G-d."[639]

With the above thoughts in mind, the individual with bitachon is certain that G-d will provide him with whatever he requires, and without trouble. Furthermore, such an individual trusts that these blessings will be valid not only on a spiritual plane - for, as is discussed in Kuntreis U'Maayon,[640] it is conceivable that a benevolent flow of Divine influence[641] be elicited from Above, but that it remain spiritual and intangible, without reaching down to This World. The above individual, however, is confident in his trust that such blessings will also materialize on the physical plane. For one's trust should span all levels, from "the heads of your tribes" until your "woodchoppers and water drawers."[642] [When these phrases are perceived at the non-literal level of interpretation known as derush, the diverse categories of Jews that they enumerate may be linked as follows:] Even the "heads," the men of spiritual stature, are required to trust that Divine blessings will also be expressed down here on the material plane. How much more does this apply to the "woodchopper." He knows of nothing beyond his simple occupation; he asks only that he should chop his wood properly so that he will be able to earn his few pennies.

In either case, the blessings need to be numerous and powerful, so that they will descend from the Source of all Blessings and reach down to This World - and not only in the lofty affairs of This World, but also in its simple matters. The individual who trusts is confident in all of this. It is not only that he would like things to transpire in this way: beyond that, the Torah of Truth prescribes that one's trust should encompass everything.

One might well ask: Why is such an individual certain that G-d will provide him with all his requirements? Does G-d owe him anything?!

And as to those who might be entitled to make their demands of G-d outright, even they say likewise, "Charity is in Your Hands."[643] Only from the perspective of This World are they able to make demands; when those demands appear Above, the truth becomes apparent - "Charity is in Your Hands." Most certainly, then, in the case of ordinary folk who are not entitled to make outright demands, whatever they are granted is a charitable gift. The above question, then, is a strong one: On what grounds does the above individual base his utter trust that G-d will provide him with whatever he needs?

The answer[644] is simple: he and G-d are one.[645] Moreover, he is located in This World below because G-d dispatched him there. Hence, since G-d is the ultimate good, and "it is the nature of One Who is benevolent to act benevolently," it is self-evident that G-d will provide him with all his needs. This applies even if he has not yet tackled his task for the month of Elul - repentance. Indeed, it applies because he is in that state.

In the same way, G-d provides for him every day. Even before he embarks on his daily Divine service, he says: "My G-d, the soul that You have placed within me is pure," and even before that he says: "I offer thanks to You..., for You have mercifully restored my soul within me...." For G-d restores it refreshed, and He Who provides life provides sustenance.[646] Moreover, since this individual is not located down here by chance, it is expected of him that he should be happy: knowing that G-d sent him here, he is certain that G-d will provide him with whatever he needs.

   

Notes:

  1. (Back to text) Excerpts from a sichah delivered on Shabbos Parshas Re'eh, Mevarchim HaChodesh, the eve of Rosh Chodesh Elul, 5734 (1974), and published in Sichos Kodesh of that year.

  2. (Back to text) Shabbos 67a.

  3. (Back to text) Zohar II, 26b.

  4. (Back to text) See Bava Metzia 83a and 86b.

  5. (Back to text) I.e., King Solomon.

  6. (Back to text) I Divrei HaYamim 29:23.

  7. (Back to text) Maamar 19ff.

  8. (Back to text) In the original, hashpaah.

  9. (Back to text) Devarim 29:9-10.

  10. (Back to text) Daniel 9:7.

  11. (Back to text) For an alternative answer to the above question, see Item 83 above.

  12. (Back to text) Cf. Zohar III, 17a ("Israel, who are the organs of the Divine Presence"), paraphrased in Tanya - Iggeres HaKodesh, Epistle 31.

  13. (Back to text) Cf. Taanis 8b.


  91.
Even Bread from the Earth comes from Heaven.
Search this book:
93.
G-d's army - and in our context, the Israel Defense Forces,
whose privilege it is to defend Jewish towns with actual self-sacrifice...  
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