Questions To Rabbi Mandel
Worried About Tomorrow
Question: Hello, I wanted to ask the Rav a Shayla. Right now, we get money from the government because of handicap benefit for some of our children (because of stomach issues, similar to Crohn’s). It’s enough money to hold us out, it’s a large amount. We need to reapply every year, and we get for that year only. Recently, my wife and I realized that it probably won't go on forever, and there's no guarantee when it will stop. And we realized that the jobs my wife can take then, when it stops, won't be enough money, because she has no skills; especially since she's not used to working.
We have two options open. She can take a course now that will increase chances and probability of a better job with higher pay. Or we can just hope it goes on forever and have Bitachon, and deal with issues when it stops.
What is the right Hashkafa and Derech to follow?
Answer: If it’s not a big sweat to take a course, and it doesn’t overburden her, then why not. But if it is a sweat and a big Eisek, then rely on the Eibishter. The same Eibishter that helped you till now will help you further. Don’t get all stressed out, like Chazal say: אַל תֵּצֵּר צָרַת מָחָר, כִּי לֹא תֵּדַע מַה יֵּלֵּד יוֹם, שֶׁמָא לְמָחָר אֵּינֶׁנּוּ יבמות סג ב, סנהדרין ק ב Don’t stress yourself over tomorrow’s problems; because you never know what can happen, tomorrow will come, and your problems will all be gone. (Maharsha). Tomorrow they won’t have the disease, tomorrow you’ll find a gold chest in the backyard, etc. Whatever happens, don’t get stressed out about tomorrow. A minimum, light preparation won’t kill anyone. So you'll feel good about yourself, you took a course. Nothing wrong.
And always have Bitachon that it’s going to disappear. Always. It’s disappearing. Work on that. And also have Bitachon to appreciate your Yissurim. Always sit on that. Very important. Always. Thanks for the Yissurim. Thanks that it’s not worse. Thanks that there’s money. Be involved in Thank You’s. All the time. That’s Stam, for your sanity. And it’s preferable to say thank you over a Chovos Halvavos. When you read his holy words, how thankful we have to be, and then you thank, it works much better. Let the springboard be the Chovos Halvavos. Take a nice piece that inspires you to be thankful.
מהרש"א יבמות סג ב
(אל תצר צרת מחר כי לא תדע מה ילד יום שמא מחר בא ואיננו נמצא מצטער על העולם שאין שלו ) אמר אל תצר כו' ולא תדע כו' בלשון נוכח, ושוב אמר מחר בא ואיננו כו' עולם שאינו שלו הוא לשון נסתר , מטעם דאין לו לתלות הקללה בו. ועוד י"ל כי הדואג בצרת מחר הוא שירא מפני רשע שגזם עליו להיצר לו למחר , ואמר מחר בא ואיננו אותו הרשע , ואז יהיה בעולם שאינו שלו דהיינו לעוה"ב שאין לרשע חלק בו.
You can submit your questions to Rabbi Mandel by emailing them to [email protected]
