For Every Breath
Now, let us ponder a little deeper. Reb Shmuel Borenstein, who was a prisoner in Auschwitz, experienced the deepest spiritual pleasure of his life in the darkest moments of his life. He understood that min haShamayim it was ordained that he should feel that he is completely in the Hands of the Ribbono shel Olam, and he cannot acquire anything for himself—not even clothing to cover himself, and not even a drop of water with which to wet his lips. In that moment, he felt the greatest pleasure.
But we must know that this feeling of complete reliance, of being entirely in the arms of the Ribbono shel Olam, exists not only in the concentration camps but in every place, at every time, and for every person. The only difference was that in Auschwitz it was simpler to recognize this truth. When a person is surrounded by “things,” it is more difficult to recognize this truth. He feels that he is set up—“Baruch Hashem, I have parnassah.... Baruch Hashem, I have a family is that is supportive of me”—and this feeling prevents him from living with the pure truth that Hashem is giving him the breath in his lungs at every moment...
“Now Hashem is giving me life. י-ה, תהלל הנשמה כל every soul should praise Hashem; י-ה, תהלל ונשימה נשימה כל על for every breath you should praise Hashem. What will happen tomorrow? I don’t know.” The fact that he doesn’t know what will happen tomorrow doesn’t bother him. To the contrary, it brings him closer to complete bitachon; it cements the feeling that he is in the arms of HaKadosh Baruch Hu.
