It is known that R' Ahron Kotler Zatzal was always quoting Rashi in this week’s Parsha, who says that: יַתֹקֻּחְבּ םִא וּכֵלֵתּ means: הָרוֹתַּבּ םיִלֵמַﬠ וּיְהִתֶּשׁ Hashem wants that we should toil in His Torah. Yet, in Mishneh Torah, in Parshas Ki Savo, it says: בָבֵל בוּטְבוּ הָחְמִשְׂבּ ˃יֶק˄ֱא 'ה תֶא ָתְּדַבָﬠ אֹל רֶשֲׁא תַחַתּתבא כח מז that our problems come from a lack of Simcha. Of course both are true, and if you excel in both areas, you can surely expect a good life (maybe even one area can also give you a good life). Before Lag Ba’omer I was asked: What should people do on the bus to Meron; learn, or sing?
I answered that some people should Davka learn, and others should Davka sing. For some, singing could be Bittul Torah Mamash, and for others, learning could be the cause of lots of their problems. And for some, “Not worrying so much what they do, and to be happy either way”, is the perfect answer. “Whatever you end up doing will be the A-1 sort of Avoda. Don't complicate yourself".
I heard this many times from R' Gershon Liebman Zatzal. He was very relaxed, and I believe it was mainly in the type of Bitachon that he was super liberal. Either having Bitachon in “getting what you want”, or being M'kabel (accepting) the situation ַא ֶלל ִא סע זי גוּ!ט "It's all good!" Even if you end up doing the “wrong” thing, Hashem will still understand you, and accept it. He is: אֵלָמ םיִמֲחַר full of compassion!
Hashem Likes Happy, Relaxed People
Some people think that Yiddishkeit is a straightjacket and a jail. Of course, having normal, healthy restrictions is the best M'halech, and: קֵסוֹעֶשׁ יִמ אָלֶּא ןיִרוֹח ןֶבּ ˃ְל ןיֵא הָרוֹתְּבּ ג ו תובא the “true” free man is the person who learns (and follows) the Torah. But getting carried away with doing everything just perfect can be the opposite of Ratzon Hashem who likes happy relaxed people. Novardokers were against Frumkeit, and I myself heard: ָבּ ַר ִבּ םי publicly how one of the old Novardokers remarked in public: וֹט ְמ ב ֹאד, ֶז ֵי ה ֶצ ר ָה ַרע “Very good”, this refers to the Yetzer Hara.
King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella, unless they accepted to convert
However, Don Yitzchok Abarbanel was offered to stay even if he kept his religion, since he was an invaluable asset to the country, with his financial expertise. He refused, but he offered a colossal amount of money to the king and queen if they allow the Jews to stay.
The story goes that they agreed, but at the last minute, Torquemeda, the wicked Galach (priest) vetoed the motion. Who was this guy? He was super "frum"; he never ate meat, and he slept only on hard wood. He was Oisgehalten (morally upstanding) and wouldn't be bribed. In the name of the "holy" Catholic Church and Yoshka Pondrik, he succeeded in causing indescribable pain to Klal Yisroel for over 1000 years, with his infamous inquisition.
Queen Isabella was also a super Frumie, who worried about Gehinom all the time. This is an extreme illustration of fake Frumkeit. L'havdil, if a Yid gets carried away in trying to do the right thing in Avodas Hashem, and he ends up being a "Frumie" who hurts himself and others, I'm sure Hashem understands his good intentions. But surely, being the "frum" type is not so simple, and Gedolei Yisroel criticized Frumkeit.
The Baalei Bitachon were happy, relaxed people, and didn't even come across so serious. Of course they were super-holy in their own way, but they used their Sechel. And in Novardok, making sure you are: םַﬠוֹנ יֵכְרַד “pleasant” was #1.
