The hero of the past Parasha, and of the upcoming Parshiyot is Yaakov Avinu, who was the father of Bitachon.
As it says, we should be saved with Elokei Yaakov. The Zohar says that this is because Yaakov Avinu was the father that was all alone. He was challenged by Esav, Lavan, and so on, yet he stayed strong throughout.
In this week’s Parasha, we see how Yaakov Avinu was challenged, and grew greater and greater.
I would like to share a beautiful thought on Bitachon for when a person is being challenged.
We all like the happy-ending stories, but we have to know what a tremendous zechut/merit it is, and what tremendous levels are reached, when a person is going through a difficult time and yet still continues to connect to Hashem.
The Mishnah in Masechet Succah tells us that during the Hoshanot process, we walk around every day and make certain requests. Two of these requests are more familiar. They are in Hallel-
אנא ה הושיעה נא and אנא ה׳ הצליחה נא
There is one that is only said on Succot-
אֲנִי וָהוּ הוֹשִׁיעָה נָּא
I, and Him save me.
What does that mean?
Rambam brings down two explanations. One is that these are names of
G-d. His other explanation, his own, is that it refers back to a pasuk that G-d says in HaAzinu
רְאוּ עַתָּה כִּי אֲנִי אֲנִי הוּא וְאֵין אֱלֹהִים עִמָּדִי אֲנִי אָמִית וַאֲחַיֶּה מָחַצְתִּי וַאֲנִי אֶרְפָּא וְאֵין מִיָּדִי מַצִּיל
See now, that I am, I am Him there are no other gods beside me I bring death, and then I bring life ( I bring people back to life) I hit and I heal, and no one can save Me.
The Rambam says that this prayer
אֲנִי וָהוּ הוֹשִׁיעָה נָּא
I and Him save me
Is the realization that there is nothing else but G-d,
“I am Him” means the speaker is revealing Himself.
So, G-d is saying that even the “Him”, which is the thing that is unclear, is really “I” G-d is saying, “There is no one else but Me.”
When a person realizes that, that there is nothing else but Hashem, that will bring the salvation.
Referring back to this pasuk,
When you realize that, אֲנִי וָהוּ I am Him,
הוֹשִׁיעָה נָּא I will save you,
Then Rambam quotes the Geonim who say that when a person is in a problem, and he’s in the problem with G-d, הושיעה נא that will save him.
Sefer Charedim, based on the Rambam, also quotes the pasuk, with a very interesting, novel peshat. I have to thank Rabbi Ebstein from Lakewood for sharing this with me.
In tehillim, chapter 91 it says –
יושב בסתר עליון
The man who sits in the shade of G-d
This perek is brought down in the Gemarah as the song of David HaMelech, to protect against any negative occurrences,
And it says,
יִקְרָאֵנִי וְאֶעֱנֵהוּ
G-d says, he will call out to Me, And I will answer him
עִמּוֹ אָנֹכִי בְצָרָה
I am with him when he has a problem
אֲחַלְּצֵהוּ וַאֲכַבְּדֵהוּ
I will save him and I will bring Him honor
Simply, “I am with him when he hs a problem” means that G-d is saying that He is with us when we have a problem. We all know this concept. Don’t think that you’re alone when you are suffering. G-d is there with you.
But the Sefer Charedim explains, in the name of the Rambam, in this same commentary on Succah, that
עִמּוֹ אָנֹכִי בְצָרָה
I am with him when he has a problem
Means that this person is
כל כך דבק בו שצרתו ותלאתו וצערו לא יטרידהו מלחשוב בו
He’s so connected to G-d that his difficulties, challenges and pain don’t stop him from thinking about G-d, while he is going through difficult times. G-d says, “Look at him! I am on his mind even when he is suffering. He is thinking about me!”
And the Sefer Charedim continues:
אין לך עבודה ודבקות גדול מזה
There is no greater service, or connecting to G-d, than this.
Those are very powerful words, from the Sefer Charedim, a Mekubal from the time of the Arizal.
No greater service and connection to
G-d than a person who is suffering and still has G-d on his mind?!?
In another spot, in chapter 77, he says,
ואפילו בעת שאדם טרוד בצערו ואין לו כח חייב לפנות לבו למעלה בחזקה
He is busy, he is preoccupied with his suffering but still, he has to turn his heart upwards with strength
As David HaMelech says,
צרה ויגון אמצא ובשם ה' אקרא
I have difficulties, I am groaning, but still I call out to G-d.
He says that when G-d sees this,
אף כי טרוד בצרתו
That he is preoccupied with his suffering,
מחזק לבו ולוקח אותי עמי
He strengthens his heart, and takes G-d with him
זה כבוד שעושה לי
That’s honor and respect to G-d.
Even when he is suffering, he doesn’t forget about me.
גם אני אחלצהו
I will save him and I will bring him respect.
These are tremendous, tremendous words. There are people, lo Alenu, that are suffering. You see them going through difficult challenges, but you watch in amazement as they still hold on to their Emunah and Bitachon.
I hope that whoever these people are, they get this message:
You are great. You act like that, and you think like that, and it is tremendous honor and respect that you are giving to G-d.
That is true greatness.
It’s the greatest service, and the greatest connection.
May the pasuk ending be fulfilled on these people, where G-d says,
“I will take him out of suffering and bring him honor.”