Rav Yehoshua of Belz zy’a explains this pasuk as follows: ‘And your life will hang before you’ – even though it was predetermined on Rosh Hashanah how much money you will earn this year (Beitzah 15A) and that amount is just ‘hanging’ and waiting for you to take it. ‘You will be in fear day and night’ – you will nevertheless be afraid. The reason for this fear is because ‘you will not believe in your life’ – you will be lacking in emunah and won’t believe that whatever Hashem decreed for you will come to you no matter what. If you would have the proper level of emunah, however, you would not be afraid at all and you would trust in Hashem to provide for you.
More in this printout
- Bikkurim Recognizing that Everything is From HashemExplore the spiritual significance of Bikkurim as a reminder that all success and land belong to Hashem, featuring insights from Rav Moshe Leib of Sassov and th
- Giving Hand to Hand is BetterA story about Rav Elchonon Wasserman and Rav Moshe Londinsky discussing the importance of written contracts and physical delivery in fulfilling obligations.
- When One Davens Out Loud He is Immediately AnsweredThe Chofetz Chaim explains how praying out loud, praying for the community, and davening after a mitzvah can lead to immediate answers from Hashem.
- The Joy of Receiving a Gift from HashemThe Tiferes Shlomo explains that we should rejoice in Hashem's gifts not just for the item itself, but because the King of Kings deemed us worthy to receive it.
- No LiesThe Abarbanel explains why the Torah requires a verbal confession (vidui) for maaser, teaching honesty in the distribution of tithes to Kohanim and Leviyim.
- The True ViduiRav Yehoshua of Tomashov explains why the vidui of maaser includes the phrase I did all that You commanded and how it leads to a broken heart and true regret.
- Heavenly JoyRabenu Bechaya explains why the Torah uses the term ma'on kadshecha in the vidui of bikkurim to describe the heavenly joy felt when fulfilling commandments.
- A Mitzvah With JoyRabenu Bechaya explains how performing mitzvos with joy, specifically giving to the poor, transforms divine judgment into mercy and brings forth blessings.
- Melting the StoneThe Chidushei Harim explains how the power of Torah can melt a heart of stone and overcome the yeitzer hara, based on the teachings of Chazal in Sukkah 52B.
- Brachos Will Pursue UsThe Degel Machaneh Efraim explains why blessings pursue us and how prayers without kavanah are eventually elevated, based on the Agrah D’Kallah and Zohar.