We are discussing how the Baal Bitachon is someone that protects those around him with his Bitachon, people enjoy his presence and he’s a pleasure to be around.
I experienced this during the 1991 Gulf War in Israel.
The Baal Bitachon of my story is Rabbi Ben Sion Abba Shaul. I merited to have a personal connection with him for many years, he impacted my life greatly and I owe a great deal to him.
At the time, I was married with two children and learning in yeshiva in Israel. It was September, during the high holiday season, and Sadaam Hussein was threatening to wipe out the State of Israel. There were speeches and calls to do teshuva. People were scared. Parents who were Holocaust survivors were calling their children home to America, saying they remembered what had happened in Germany. They wouldn’t take the threats lightly.
I went to Rabbi Abba Shaul to ask him what I should do. It amazes me to see how all aspects of the situation were weighed. Da’at Torah can’t be duplicated.
He told me that since the yeshiva had completed a Masechet and would now reviewing (Hulin) for the next few months, I should go back to America, which we did. Then December came. The threats were getting stronger but now we’d be starting a new Masechet, Avodah Zara. When I asked the rabbi what to do, despite the fact that many more people were leaving, he said to come back for the new learning.
When we went back, things were more even tense with Iraq, and my parents were nervous. The rabbi said to stay in Israel and that my parents shouldn’t worry; he could guarantee that no scuds would hit Yerushalayim. He said all the Torah being learned there would be a protective shield. (Very similar to what Rav Chaim Kanievsky said about Rav Shach in Bnei B’rak)
This was an interesting war. Hashem showed us we are not in charge. President Bush had instructed Israel not to do anything in retaliation. He told Shamir, the Prime Minister at the time, to stay out of it so that it wouldn’t become an Israeli-Arab war, and to sit back and let America take care of it. Shamir agreed.
Every time the sirens went off, we went through the whole process of running to the sealed room, placing towels under the door and putting on the gas masks. It was interesting that the missiles only fired at night. And because everyone was afraid to be caught outside without their gas masks, in fear of chemical warfare, no one went out at night.
In yeshiva, we were up to second seder. And I was there to learn. The second session went from 330-7pm. I was living in Arzei HaBira, which was about a 30 minute bus ride away from the kollel in Ramot.
I asked the rabbi what to do at night. Should I just stay and take the bus home later? Nothing would happen right? After all, he had guaranteed our safety.
But the rabbi said that the second the sun set, I should be home.
Why? I wondered. Weren’t we guaranteed protection?
He said it was because my wife would be nervous and I shouldn’t leave her alone.
Look how the gadol took everything into consideration! He had Bitachon, but just because he wasn’t afraid, that didn’t mean he should ignore the fears and concerns of others.
That’s what is meant by being pleasant to be around. He took other people into account. He recognized that she was nervous.
There’s a similar story about Rav Yosef Chaim Sonnenfeld. He and his wife were impoverished with no food.
When his wife cried about it, he knew he had to do hishtadlut. He understood that his wife wasn’t expected to survive on his Bitachon. You have to take those around you into consideration.
Rav Abba Shaul knew that it would be safe to stay and learn, and he wasn’t worried, but told me to be home because my wife would be nervous. He took my wife’s feelings into consideration.
This is greatness. Taking people’s feelings into consideration, despite your faith in Hashem.