Bitachon 282 - More Or Less Efforts

You're listening to the 282nd edition of the Be Talkin' podcast. And you might notice there's a little floof on top of my microphone. That's because it's a little windy here today. We're heading into the rainy season in Israel, Baruch Hashem. So, we're in the middle of speaking about the idea of bitachon and hishtadlus, how we balance our faith in Hashem, our trust in Hashem, and efforts that we put in. So, we were speaking about the one who holds that you need to put in regular efforts. We said the Ba'alei Rishus Zohar and Rabbeinu Bachya ben Asher and Ralbag. Ones who hold this way are the Rabbeinu Bachya and the Ralbag. Custom Rabbeinu Bachya on the possuk "Sus muchan l'yom milchama v'laShem hatshua." That one is obligated indeed or the possuk speaks of in Mishlei the horse that's prepared for the battlefield, but it's it is Hashem who gives the person his salvation. Melech al Hashem yaish here kol adam mikas ha'zeh, she'yaseh kol davar she'tzarich la'asos. King Solomon is telling us that person is obligated to do anything that's needed. D'erech hateva k'mo she'hu b'kocho. And in a natural way, all that the person can she'yimsar ha'she'ar b'yedei Shamayim. And give over the rest to Hashem. Which, I mean, if you're doing everything that you can, so then what is he giving in the rest to Hashem? I would say that obviously if I'm putting in efforts, that doesn't guarantee results. So, I do my best, I do as much as I can, and then I leave the results to Hakadosh Baruch Hu. K'dei na'aseh nes k'lal b'chlal ha'teva. So, in order for there to be a a miraculous type of event, so needs to have a place to be chal. Oh, it has to have a place for it to take effect. The human being is created and built upon the aspect of nature. Therefore, a person needs to do actions that are preparations from to receive and to attain that which he wishes. Well, I don't know what this means, boy. And to stand up for and I would say prove in a certain way to himself and to Hashem that this is what he wants. For example, a person wants to go in battle on his enemies. It's appropriate for him to uh prepare weapons and horses and chariots for the day of of battle. What's we are learning of? If he doesn't prepare and and he depends upon a miracle so he'll be given over into the hands of his enemies. Which is interesting. I was just speaking to my mother on the way to this location. And we talked about there are two different types of wars. One is Mashiach ben Yosef war, which is the kind that we're in now. Where we have to put in efforts, which is what he's speaking about. And there's a deeper war, another type of war which is which is a Mashiach ben David war, Hezekiah war. He goes to sleep, he davens, he wakes up in the morning, the enemies are dead. But the Rabbeinu Bachya is speaking about our type of war. Once a person has done all that's within his power and also he did all the normal and natural type of preparation so a person should have in mind which is difficult obviously if you're putting in every effort. But don't make the mistake that it's you. I need to make sure to have in mind that it's Hashem is going to give me success. It's not because of these preparations. Yes, you not to will mean by the day because person can lose a battle even if he's done all of the preparations. Person can win even without them. So then my client says and this is the beginning of partial schlock. That the main salvation when it comes to the matter of war is not dependent upon the preparations, but rather it's completely dependent on Hashem. Okay, so that's the way to go. Then he brings the customer bag. Really what does she start about this stuff with? It's appropriate that a person make efforts in trying to get to a certain outcome. She have any love. That a person even if you're sure that Hashem is going to help you. You believe that you're going to have the shmo. You should still try to put in efforts. Then you know, the person knows that Hashem will help him. You know, you should start out of the way of receiving what nice is. Hashem still wants us, going to this opinion, >> [sighs] >> and this is probably the level of you talking that most of us are on. Hashem does want us to do appropriate actions, take appropriate preparations in order to get to our goals. In Roman is a shine on a nice. If a person has seen, let's say I see that I have Siyata Dishmaya. I see that things are working out miraculously. But, I shouldn't take that as a reason to assume that I can always depend on that miracle. You can't say Zemi Biyam Tiyase Boys. I can't then go and say, "Oh well, Hashem is doing everything for me." Hashem sent me a job. I didn't even do anything to get it. So, therefore, now I don't need to do any Hishtadlus. I should reveal the Tachlis out. The in order to get to a certain a certain result. Al Itira Kiguida Mayusa Muftach Sheyinatzeach Lo Yovav. We see in Tanach that Gideon Gideon who was sure, he already had a promise, that he's going to win against his enemies. Yishtal Bim Bam Sas Kol Siyavos. Yishtal Bim Shala Bam Bam Zeh. He nevertheless put in efforts and did all that was necessary, all that could be done in order to fulfill his goal. Okay, so that's a quote from the Ralbag. Harei Roim B'Mefurash Hadvarim. We see explicitly in the Ralbag's words, She'Oden Sarch Lasos Kol Mashib Kicho. The person needs to do everything that he can. Ve'ein Lo L'Katzair B'Siyavos Ela Yasah Siyavos Yisah B'Yad Hashem Yisah. You shouldn't cut back on your efforts, but rather you should do them and trust in Hashem. Hashem's going to give you success. L'fi Shita Zo Yotzei, She'ein Had Hishtadlus B'Mivtach B'Hashem U'Vilti Mivtach. >> [sighs and gasps] >> According to this opinion, it comes out that if you look at the two people, one who trusts in Hashem and one who doesn't, you wouldn't be able to tell from their efforts that there's a difference between them. Ach Hadal Hu B'Machshava U'V'Kavana Amay. The only difference is inside of the person's mind. Who does he think is giving him success? The one who is the one who trusts believes in is the one giving him the success. The one who doesn't trust believes that his own efforts are the things that are giving him success. Is it a sham on upon who he relies or on his own actions? Love David Rosen is saying says I believe my opinion is that there is a difference when it comes to the efforts done between someone who trusts and someone who doesn't. >> [snorts] >> The type of excuse me, the type of person who does not trust in a sham. So when he gets in a pickle, when he gets in a bind, so he's going to turn to human beings maybe to help him. He's going to turn to idols. But things that don't really have the ability to help him The person who is above me talking so they're not going to turn away to other things. They're going to turn to a sham. Because when he does all of his efforts even without turning towards them toward towards the the seemingly successful means but really not. I would think of it also in terms of maybe dishonest means. So he is going to turn to to the correct means Shamayim Azriel who Yevosha. So, he will be saved. Hashem will help him. Kafisha Kaisa Chazonish is it's all like the Chazonish writes Yesh Gedolim B'Pulesha L'Hishtadlus Sumutarus V'Im Lo Im Emunas B'Tachas Na'eh L'Hishtadlus. We're saying some of Yocodem. There are boundaries when it comes to the types of actions that are permitted to do. And sometimes a person is B'Tachon. Um a person is B'Tachon says you should not do a particular action. And this means should not be used. K'Sulam Amar B'Medrash Rabbah Miketz Our sages tell us in the Medrash in Miketz which I believe is quoted by Rashi Hishtadlus Shelo Yosif Atzmi L'Vakesh MiSar Mashkim V'Zichartani that when Yosef put in too much effort he went too far. He said "Remember me." And then he said again, "Remember me." He kept He He overdid it. Overdid the Hishtadlus. Aisa K'Zilzul B'Mitzvas B'Tachon. So, it was when Yosef did that, so he made a mistake. And he minimized He He I would say disrespected, obviously on his level the idea of B'Tachon. Rami Rashi Agav Ersha Shamashim B'Tachli. As I'll say praiseworthy is the one who who makes Hashem's trust. Z'Yosef. This is a reference to Yosef Atzadik B'Lifnei Elohim V'Goyim. And he didn't turn to empty things. Etc. She Mishulsh Upon Avsar Mashkim Shvas L'Shlosha Shanim. He was about B'Tachon. And he shouldn't have overdone his Hishtadlus by asking the Sar Mashkim again to remember him. V'Tzulam Yosef Yada Shelo Yosif L'Toldosam. come here and show him he realized that his salvation was not dependent upon his his efforts. Everything is from Hashem. So he knows that it's completely dependent on Hashem but he also knows that he has an obligation to do some kind of effort to put in some kind of effort. So that's why he asked him in the first place. But since when it comes to somebody like this it's not really their type of it's not this type of guy. It's not his way to be nice to a prisoner in jail and do Yosef a favor and try to get him out of jail. So he shouldn't If a person feels me you watch he feels hopeless. So then it makes sense for him to ask this type of guy help me out save me get me out of here. You're you're desperate. But about a person who's in desperation and doesn't believe that Hashem is going to help him he's going to take a certain tack he's going to take certain actions that a person who's not desperate a person who trusts believes in Hashem believes that Hashem can take care of him he's not going to go that far. This is not an action which is really obligatory. Yesh bem the mice is that can be a vocal we talking. When Yosef asked for help from this guy who very little chance that this guy's going to help him. So, or maybe in the way that he asked him. So, it's throwing dust so to speak on the idea of it means that you feel desperate. And so if it's not if it's not an obligation then it's forbidden. And I think this is what this was all a quote from the Hazon Ish. Very interesting. Okay, so Hazon Ish classically we we we discussed it the sheet a few weeks ago that he generally holds that one should put in efforts but you can't put in desperate efforts. Desperate efforts show you don't believe that Hashem's in charge. So, we got to watch out for that. Okay? So, that's the first sheet. Now, we're going to start and make some headway maybe into the second sheet which is minimizing the dollars. mute the dollars. This one goes on for a while. Maybe discussing this for few weeks. The second opinion which most of the great ones of Israel believe in and and encourage it holds that a person should not just sit back and wait for a miracle. Because we have the decree in the world that Hashem said to Adam because of his sin you have to put in efforts. By the sweat of your by the sweat of your face you're going to eat bread. That without that decree we wouldn't have had to do any put in any efforts. I came in chezal, rak zero klolo. Tzarchum ayin l'isabel min asur avshur. But since it's a decree and it's a curse, so we want to minimize it as much as possible. Miyut acher miyut bishtadlus. The language he quotes here from the Michtav M'Eliyahu is a small fraction of a fraction of efforts. Which means to say, if I think I'm going to need a particular amount of effort, half it. And half it further, right? Ach came in chezal, rak zero klolo. Okay, we read that already. Ach gezeira zo nemar in regards to this decree it says, v'al nembo ad v'al haklal min ishur kol ishur ishur b'vechi nosay. The Rambam says in Shmoneh Prakim, we have here a general principle and each person has to figure out where they stand in their own free choice. K'lamar, sh'gezeira zo nigzara al mena anoshim b'darka. This is a general decree that was placed upon mankind. Al kol ishur ishur sh'b'chira l'chamech gezeira zo b'midei yado. Everyone has the ability, each individual, to get to get out of the decree at a certain level. V'ein l'hadoir asur she'yachol l'atzmo v'lo l'eimar k'van nigzar al gezeira. So you can't It's very interesting. So you can't just say, "Okay, there's a decree and therefore I have to do maximum hishtadlus." That's not You can't just get out of it that way. So So the Rambam and the Michtav M'Eliyahu are saying not like the Rabbeinu Bachya and not like the Rabbeinu Bachya that you have to do as much as possible except for desperation. They're saying uh don't make a mistake and think that you have to do every single hishtadlus. If If you shita zo, v'im ein hishtadlus m'aral chais b'dacha m'Hashem. Even just doing a lot of his dollars, I'll put in a lot of efforts. Even a standard amount of effort that it seems that's necessary. That signifies that you don't believe that Hashem's in charge. Like it says in the summer coming by the precious. They said a story about a particular individual tzaddik that at first he went to a far-off land to seek his livelihood. And he found a particular idolater in that city that he had gone to. I perish. He says to him you guys, you serve these idols. You have the ultimate foolishness, the ultimate blindness by serving them. I'm going to let him go, she the the idolater says to to this tzaddik He says, what do you who who do you serve? He says, I serve the creator. The great God. The one. The sustainer. There's no one like him. So I'm going to let him go, she so the idolater says to him I don't know what to say to Mr. Recha. Your actions contradict your words. I'm going to perish. What I have said, what do you mean? I'm going to let him go, she So this idolater says If you really believe it that he's your sustainer he's your provider, he's the the one the only one key us He would have provided for you where you live. Can I share finances how come just like he can provide for you here? You won't have had to go to the efforts to come to this faraway land. So the the tsadik had to eat his own words. It sounds like he became a parsha as a result of this conversation. So he goes back to the city. He accepted upon himself precious which means the separate himself from the world. And he never traveled again. Okay, so that's another introduction to Shari talking in the house of office. Which means to say person has real faith in Hashem. Is that the other is not to put in a lot of efforts. Cuz even if a person puts in efforts with all of his power and he uses all of his wisdom. He's involved with all of his abilities and with all of his strength in the needs of his livelihood. You won't have not one penny more than Hashem has set from that he's supposed to have. Then Hashem has decreed that he that he make this year or this week. Okay, so we're just beginning to talk about the middle sheetah which he says is the standard sheetah. Which is we don't put in maximum we put in minimum if we put in this. And as we talked about in the past, the Chofetz Chaim zt"l which is the shita is for the ba'alei batim myura'im. Right? For the For those who are true bnei Torah, the bnei Torah who are who are working, who are involved in the business world, but still we have an obligation of bitachon of trusting in Hashem, not doing every single thing possible to succeed, but minimizing our hishtadlus, making sure that we're trusting truly in Hashem, showing through our actions that we trust in Hashem. Thank you so much for listening. We'll see you again next time.