The Question of all questions: What is bitachon? The following story answers this question:
In Germany before the War, there lived a Yid who was very wealthy, and as wealthy as he was financially, that’s how poor and impoverished he was spiritually, as he had barely a concept of Yiddishkeit.
One morning this man saw that his daughter was not feeling well. He realized immediately that the problem was serious, and he hurried to call the best doctor in Berlin.
After examining the girl, the doctor sorrowfully informed the father that there was nothing to be done. He advised him to prepare for the worst of all, as there was no medication that could heal his daughter.
The father didn’t despair. He sent a messenger to Vilna and called for the best doctor of that city.
The story repeated itself. The doctor left the house without any good news.
The father called many more doctors, and they all gave him the same grim news. It was a waste of money for him to invest in doctors, because there was no chance that the girl would heal.
When he’d despaired of getting any help from the doctors, the father said, “If the doctors have nothing to do, then we must go to Hakadosh Baruch Hu.”
He went to the gabbai of the shul and asked for the keys. He entered the shul emotionally, opened the aron kodesh, and said:
“Father in Heaven, I didn’t want to bother You, but what could I do if I simply have no choice? I called upon and paid all the doctors, and none of them was able to heal my daughter, but, Father in Heaven, You are able to do so! Please heal my daughter quickly.”
He concluded his tefillah and returned home.
As soon as he entered his daughter’s room and he saw on her face that there was significant improvement.
Within two weeks she rose from her sickbed and was walking around, just like anyone else.
The Rebbi of Porisuv zt”l told this story. He heard it from the Skolya Rebbe zt”l, who knew the Yid and the story firsthand.
This simple Yid demonstrates the meaning of bitachon. It’s clear that his Yiddishkeit was weak, and nonetheless, his tefillah had an impact as though he were one of the tzaddikim of the generation.
Because this Yid was sure! He was sure that Hakadosh Baruch Hu could heal his daughter, and he was sure that Hakadosh Baruch Hu would heal his daughter.
When a person is certain of his trust in Hashem, this bitachon brings him all the good and all the yeshuos.
Gut Shabbat
Pinchas Shefer
