This class has been dedicated in loving memory of Yaakov Ben Rose, Mr. Jack Feldman a’h, by his daughter Paula.
Today is his yarzheit.
This past week’s Parasha had an incident where G-d came to Yaakov Avinu and told him it was time to leave his father-in-law Lavan’s house.
Yaakov then called to his two wives, Rachel and Leah, and told them to come to the field. Rather than share with them that he just had a revelation from G-d, that He said it’s time to leave, Yaakov went on to describe how their father was a scoundrel, how he had deceived Yaakov multiple times, and how if not for G-d’s intervention, he would’ve been totally destitute. Lavan’s daughters responded, “You’re right. Our father sold us, whereas a normal father gives a dowry.” They agreed 100% that they should leave. The obvious question is why Yaakov didn’t just tell them,
“G-d said to leave, so let’s leave?” Why did he have to go through a logical explanation?
Both Rav Yaakov Kaminetzky and Rav Moshe Feinstein give the same answer:
We are not supposed to make religion hard for ourselves. We’re supposed to try and make it easy. If there’s something that is logical to do, why not just use the logical approach and make it easier? We don’t have to make tests for ourselves, and make life harder. It’s not necessary. Like it says, “Don’t bring me to a test.”
Why should Yaakov test his wives and say, “Your wonderful father... we’re going to miss him so much! He was so good to you, but we have to leave.” That would’ve made it harder for them. Instead, he made it easier. There was no reason to stay.
We can use this same concept when it comes to strengthening our Bitachon.
There are two approaches as to why we should rely on G-d One is that it’s a mitzvah: G-d said we have to rely on Him. The other approach is that it makes a lot of sense to rely on G-d. Relying on G-d is logical and sensible; He is the only one to rely on.
The Elder of Novardok quoted in the sefer, Meorot HaGedolim (page 140) says that when you get into a taxi (today we would call an Uber) the driver is often an unknown immigrant. He might be an illegal, or even a terrorist. But you get in the car feeling comfortable and confident that he’ll get you to your destination. There are many other examples of how people put their trust in strangers, and they aren’t afraid of anything, when knows what the person might do?! But we rely on him. “If that’s the case,” he says, “Shouldn’t we rely on Abayeh and Rava, who are like angels of G-d? They tell us, in the Gemarah, so many lessons in Bitachon.”
It’s logical to rely on G-d. We don’t need to use the Mitzvah approach, as if it’s a religious obligation to rely on G-d. It’s not just a religious obligation. It’s the most sensible, logical thing to do.
This, says the Elder of Novardok, is a way to strengthen our Bitachon; to realize that Hashem created everything. There is nothing else that exists beside Him. Just look into creation and you’ll see how everything is running, and how it has been running for the past thousands of years. See how the Jewish nation is still here. That is a source for Bitachon.
Rabbenu Bachye says a similar thing, based on a Midrash in Tehilim. The pasuk (in Yeshaya) says,
בטחו בה׳ עדי עד
Rely on Hashem forever
כי בי-ה הוי״ה צור עולמים
Why ? With this י-ה ( the 2 letter name of Hashem) G-d created two worlds.
The Midrash explains that this means G-d is saying, “Do you know who you’re relying on? If you’re relying on Me, I created two worlds- one with one letter, and one with the other letter.“
Rabbenu Bachye says in his sefer Ka V’Kemach, “You should rely on this. It’s logical. If Hashem created all the upper worlds, the stars and galaxies, with 2 letters of His name, imagine what His full name can do! Therefore, (and this is key) relying on
G-d is something logical. It’s not a חק/chok (an incomprehensible concept) like the Parah Aduma/Red Heiffer.
Another Midrash Tehilim gives a mashal based on the pasuk
תֵּצֵ֣א ר֭וּחוֹ יָשֻׁ֣ב לְאַדְמָת֑וֹ
His spirit leaves, he goes back to his dirt.
(We say this every day in Pesukei D’Zimra)
This is comparable to a man that is walking and sees a large, very scary, muscular-looking figure up ahead. But as he gets closer, he sees that it’s just a balloon. When you pop the balloon, the air comes out and nothing is there. And the man wonders, “That’s what I got scared of? There was nothing there! It was just air”
Hashem says, “That is what people are. All those powerful people, what gives them their strength? The air that I blew into them! If you pop the balloon, the air goes out, along with all of their ideas.”
So if you want something to rely on, that lasts forever, G-d says, Rely on Me, because I am here forever.
אשרי שאל יעקוב בעזרו.. עושה שמים וארץ
Fortunate is the one who G-d is here to help him, G-d made the heavens and the earth
G-d says, “Have the heavens and earth changed? They’re still here. Since I created them, they haven’t disappeared.
So too, someone that relies on Me, will last forever.”
These are logical reasons to feel confident and relying on Hashem.
Have a wonderful day.