A Thought on Bitachon
From the shiurim on Kav Hashgachah
that beasts of prey cannot make independent choices; rather, their ability to cause harm comes from man, who is the source of all the powers in all of creation. When man ruins his middos, he gives power to beasts of prey to cause him harm. That is why in the future, “the wolf will dwell with the lamb,” as the navi promises. For through the tikkun of man, the beasts of prey will find their tikkun as well. Therefore, when Rabi Chanina told them “Look... it is not the snake that kills; it is sin that kills,” their appropriate response was, “Woe to the man who meets such a snake.” So long as the snake is still killing, we need to bemoan man, who has not yet repaired his middos, and “woe to the snake,” who has become a harmful creature through man. And the proof of this is that Rabi Chanina ben Dosa met up with him, and the snake could not harm him, for in truth the snake is not a harmful creature, as it says, “woe to the snake” that became a harmful creature only because of man, so it is fitting to bemoan him.
(based on Likutei Basar Likutei, citing Imrei Hasechel)
Everything Is with Hashgachas Hashem
Why specifically did they conclude with, “at that time”? In that generation there were people who thought that everything was incidental and that there is no hashgachah of Hashem, and that the fact that the snake kills was part of nature. But when they saw how Rabi Chanina put his foot over the hole and the snake died, which is unnatural, then they understood that it is not the snake that kills because of its nature, but rather that everything happens with hashgachas Hashem. This is the meaning of the words “at that time.”
(Based on Pe’er Yisrael, Parshas Behar)
Te s h u v a h – the Best Medicine
When someone becomes ill, he must first seek ways to heal his soul before seeking physical means of healing. This is as Dovid Hamelech said (Tehillim 41:5): “I said, Hashem, have pity on me, heal my soul for I have sinned to You.” This means: When I became ill, I davened for the healing of my soul; my efforts were directed toward that goal rather than toward healing my body.... The danger to the soul is greater than the danger to the body, for the soul lives on forever, while the body is discarded. Moreover, I have no doubt that illness of the soul is the primary reason for the body’s illness, and a healthy soul will protect the body from any mortal illness. If anyone thinks that this applies only to those special individuals like Rabi Chanina ben Dosa, he is mistaken, because spiritual health actually controls everyone’s physical health.
People who are physically weak are more prone to illness, for they lack immunity. People who are spiritually weak lack immunity against all sorts of harm. To the degree that a person is physically healthy, that is how much he is immune to health hazards. It is the same on the spiritual level. Just as an individual who took medication and other life-saving treatments will be protected from many dangerous illnesses, so too the completely healthy soul of someone who is dedicated to serving Hashem and fulfilling His mitzvos, and who takes the medication of teshuvah, will be protected from all sorts of harm, and this is the advantage of Rabi Chanina ben Dosa and those like him.
(based on Drashos Haran, #6)
Sin Gives Power to the Snake
What is the chiddush in Chazal’s words, “woe to the man...”? And what is the meaning of their words, “woe to the snake...”? Are we giving a eulogy for the snake?
This can be understood according to what Rambam writes,
