An Ehrliche Yid Doesn’t Have the Slightest Bit of Faith in the Wealthy
The Freedom of Not Relying on Others
Bitachon Gives Us a Serene Life
In the introduction to Sha’ar HaBitachon, the Chovos HaLevavos explains that a person who doesn’t place his faith and trust in his money merits a sweet and pleasant life. He can always serve Hashem with serenity—without the issue of money getting in the way.
The Chovos HaLevavos writes: בממונו אדם יחמוד ולא, and he will not be desirous of other people’s money. This is the plain understanding of these words; the ba’al bitachon won’t be envious of other people’s money, because he will be serene and content with what Hashem has given him.
The Ba’al Bitachon Is Independent from Others
However, the Pas Lechem, an early commentary on the Chovos HaLevavos, explains the בממונו אדם יחמוד ולא sdrow differently. Sometimes, a person wishes he could be friendly with another person or to be related to him. He isn’t actually interested in being close to the other person; he simply wants proximity to his money.
Says the Chovos HaLevavos: The ba’al bitachon is free of all this. He doesn’t go through these thoughts of wishing that he were close to this wealthy person... to have protektzia from this askan... The ba’al bitachon lives the good life, totally uninterested in forging relationships with people who have money.
“Cursed Is the Person Who Trusts in Man”
It is very important to meditate upon this yesod—because it is an area in which many people, even those who work on their emunah and bitachon, can sometimes get sucked in.... They don’t realize how much this type of thinking can drag a person down.
The Navi (Yirmiyah 17:5) says, ושם באדם יבטח אשר הגבר ארור ה' אמר כה לבו יסור ומן־ה' זרעו בשר, Thus said Hashem, accursed is the man who trusts in people and makes flesh and blood his strength and turns his heart away from Hashem—clearly, one who relies on humans is accursed.
The Navi is referring to a person who thinks: If I’ll have a problem, I’ll always have whom to turn to... this relative will give me money...this askan will take care of things. Sure, I have bitachon in the Ribbono shel Olam, but for ‘extra security,’ I always know that I can fall back on my wealthy brother... if things don’t work out as I wished, and the Ribbono shel Olam won’t hear my tefillos, I will always have a way out....
Thoughts That Run Contrary to Emunah in Hashem
This person feels that he truly has bitachon. He only wants to do some “hishtadlus.” After all, we can’t rely solely on miracles.... But, at the end of the day, these thoughts are a tremendous obstacle to attaining closeness with Hashem.
Proof of this is the fact that when this person will need money or to have a certain matter taken care of, he thinks immediately, “Who has connections with this wealthy person...?” And if he himself has a connection, then he is certainly calm and assured. If his brother or relative tells him, “I got this... I will take care of it...,” it brings him great assuredness and serenity in his heart. This, by definition, means that he trusts in people.
Trusting in People Automatically Relegates a Person to a Situation of Being Cursed, R”l
The same applies to a person whose father or father-in-law is wealthy, and he tells himself, “Baruch Hashem, I come from a wealthy family... it is so sad for my friends who come from poor families... they have no support system.” Indeed, he says “baruch Hashem” ten times, but he is l’maiseh fully dependent upon his father or father-in-law. In this mindset, he has the serenity that if all else fails, someone will be there for him... Baruch Hashem, in our family we’re taken care of. This is what the Navi refers to when he says באדם יבטח אשר הגבר ארור — he is nebach an accursed person.
This pasuk also suggests that this person is automatically accursed... he doesn’t need to be explicitly cursed. The very fact that that he relies on people automatically cuts him off from the Source of Blessing, and he is therefore liable to fall into danger because he isn’t reliant upon the Ribbono shel Olam.
The Preciousness of a Wealthy Person’s Bitachon
In this vein, Rebbe Moshe Leib of Sasov once said that the bitachon of the wealthy person is far more precious than that of the poor person—for the poor person has nothing to rely upon but Hashem, but the rich person can be tempted to rely on his money.
And if he does rely upon the Ribbono shel Olam, it means that he worked long and hard on his emunah and bitachon—and for this reason it is more meaningful.
“My Power and the Might of My Hand”—Even When Relying on Others
People often don’t realize that all of these aforementioned thoughts amount to depending on others. We must understand this well... how many times we depend upon others instead of the Ribbono shel Olam.
Rebbe Tzadok HaKohen of Lublin offers an incredible teaching regarding this (Sefer HaZichronos Mitzvah 1): When a person trusts in another person, he is essentially saying ידי ועוצם כחי — my power and the might of my hands. For what difference is it if he trusts in himself or if he trusts in the power of another person!”
The Mistake of Investing Time and Thought in Impressing the Rich Person
When we see a weak human being who is very far from Yiddishkeit, and he speaks of himself, his might, and his wealth with great hubris—he practically says, “I alone, with the might of my hands, created this wealth, and nothing can take it away from me.” Every ehrliche Yid would rightly be revolted by such words. It will be difficult to even listen to such words of heresy.
But when this very same Yid needs to make a wedding, he’ll ask, “How much does this oisher give? Who can put in a good word for me with him?” He takes extraordinary measures to impress the wealthy person in order to receive some of his money.
In other words, he places his entire hope in another person. And this is the same thing as relying on one’s own wealth, power, and might! He will say, “But one needs to have a mehalech... the Ribbono shel Olam wants us to do hishtadlus....” The truth is that all this “hishtadlus” he’s doing is excessive and uncalled for. He is simply placing his trust in another person. Instead, he should be thinking that the Ribbono shel Olam will help him, and we don’t need to give Him ideas regarding how to help us.
The Ba’al Bitachon Is Free from Servitude
We must think deeply about this: How many times do we have thoughts along these lines, that the yeshu’ah will come through this-and-this person specifically?
The Chovos HaLevavos is teaching us that a person who thinks this way is, sadly, enslaved. He has a difficult life! He struggles and toils for nothing, thinking constantly about whom he can impress to receive a share of their money.
The Chovos HaLevavos is telling us: You should know that one of the greatest benefits of bitachon is that you will no longer need to struggle! You’ll never need to think about how to forge connections with this person who has money. You’ll be assured and reliant only on the Ribbono shel Olam, and not at all reliant on other people.
Remaining Serene Under All Circumstances
A Two-Pronged Loss
There’s an incredible and sharp expression from the Beis HaLevi in his kuntres Middas HaBitachon, in which he says that one who trusts in people commits tremendous foolishness—for not only is he losing out on trusting Hashem, but he also earns the terrible curse, R”l, of the Navi mentioned above. And who would want to receive such a curse, chas v’shalom?
On the one hand, continues the Beis HaLevi, when one trusts in man, there’s a chance that he will be helped and there’s a chance that he will not be helped. But what is certain is that he will earn the curse of the Navi. You’re hoping for a safeik but the curse is a ...וודאי R”l.
Losing Both Worlds, R”l
“His loss will be twofold,” says the Beis HaLevi. “In This World and in the Next World.”
Here, on This World, he will be disappointed, as the pasuk (Iyov 11:20) tells us: נפש מפח ותקוותם — their hopes will turn to heartache and despair—someone who misplaces his hope will be disappointed. And we see clearly that this happens all the time. “Why can’t this person help me? He has so much money... can’t he share some of it?! Can’t he understand my dire situation?!” These thoughts then morph into anger, and then into hatred, R”l—all because he has placed his trust in man.
As for Olam Haba, one also loses—since he is cursed for trusting in man, not in the Ribbono shel Olam. He loses both worlds, all for trusting in humans, which doesn’t even help.
Aggravation, Not from Hishtadlus, but From Trusting in Men
We will not discuss whether and how much it is permitted to collect money from people. This is something that the Chovos HaLevavos addresses later. But this much is clear: When a person does reach out to his fellow for money, it is a terrible mistake to rely on him. It brings only aggravation and heartache.
The reality is that the actual act of appealing to another person for money doesn’t itself cause a person’s hair to turn white... it is the worry and the energy that we invest into it... the thoughts of “How can I access this person? How can I get protektzia from this person? He is my relative and he will surely help me....” This is what brings disappointment and heartache.
When Adhering to Torah, We’re Always Serene
The rule is that when a person listens to the Aibishter’s Torah, he will always be calm. If a person sees that going out to collect money costs him his health, this is a clear sign that he has deviated from the mission... he got carried away.
If all his efforts to procure money brought him aggravation, he can be certain that this is not the hishtadlus that the Torah expects of him.
Trust in Man Has Nothing to Do with Hishtadlus
Some people think that trusting in another person constitutes hishtadlus, but this is a colossal mistake. And we are not just talking about money here—but in every situation where a person is hoping for the solution to a problem: he needs certain documents, he must take care of certain things... and he immediately begins wracking his brains... “Whom do I know, and how can I get to this person... who can help me, and who can take care of this for me...?”
This person forgets to appeal to Hashem, because he is so preoccupied with appealing to people. If we’re being honest with ourselves, we will see that our hearts are mamish twisted when it comes to this—and this causes us so much heartache. As the Navi says, a person who trusts in others is automatically cursed.... It is certainly not part of our hishtadlus.
A Yid Must Do His Part, the Money Will Come in Any Case
The ba’al bitachon knows that while we must do our utmost to raise money for Yidden and Torah institutions in need, this does not mean that we should trust in a specific person. If one person doesn’t want to give, the money that is meant to come will certainly come through another person! Whoever will have the zechus will be the one to give the money that’s meant to come.
Ehrliche Yidden never relied upon wealthy people. They surely worked hard to raise money for Yidden, but they were serene and calm throughout—always knowing that whoever is zocheh will be the one to give the money! Sure, they met with gevirim and attempted to persuade them to give generously... but it was never in a way of aggressively pinning all their hopes on one source. They understood that the money doesn’t necessarily need to come from that source. The Ribbono shel Olam will send it through the right conduit!
It Is Simply Good to Have Bitachon
About this, David HaMelech tells us באדם מבטוח בה' לחסות טוב — it is better to take refuge in Hashem than to rely on man. Tov means that it is good, it is pleasant! It is simply good spiritually as well as materially. A Yid who relies upon the Ribbono shel Olam is able to learn and daven properly with peace of mind, and he can function as a calm human being—whereas the באדם בוטח is not טוב — it is not good or pleasant.
And the truth is that this is the true test. If a person wants to see if he is in the right place, he should think about whether he feels the לחסות טוב בה'. If he feels good and not strained when it comes to money, it is a sign than he is reliant on the Ribbono shel Olam, not on people.
Bitachon That Comes After the Previous Disappointments
The holy Sefer Tiferes Shlomo (Rosh Chodesh) teaches us an incredible peshat on the words באדם. מבטוח בה' לחסות טוב It doesn’t mean simply that it is more preferable to rely on Hashem; there’s a much deeper meaning: How does one arrive at true bitachon in Hashem? בנדיבים! מבטוח — from relying on generous men. After trusting in men, and seeing how far it gets him (or doesn’t get him) then one becomes a בה'. בוטח
After he has gone through so many efforts to trust in others, he is finally convinced that it is pointless—and the only address is that of the Ribbono shel Olam.
Of course, this is said only regarding a person who learns from past mistakes—not a person who insists on making them over and over. Now he has another gevir on his blacklist... but he hasn’t learned from the experience that בה' לחסות טוב — it is good to trust Hashem.
Let Go of the Gevir
In previous shiurim we discussed the concept of the ba’al bitachon and his belief that money is only on deposit with him—he’s only the custodian.
The problem is that there are people who believe that the money in the other person’s possession is certainly theirs! The Chovos HaLevavos is telling us, leave that wealthy person alone already! Who told you that you must be helped davka through him. Let go of bitachon on wealthy people. Only Hashem can help you!
Don’t Lower Yourself to Talking About Money Excessively
Speak of His Wonders
In recent years, it has become common for people to publicize stories of Hashgachah Pratis. This surely is a wonderful thing—reminding us how the Ribbono shel Olam runs the world, and it gives people chizuk that just as Hashem helped other people out of their dilemmas, He will surely help us in our problems as well.
Talking About Money Is the Opposite of Hashgachah Pratis
We must point out, however, that just as there’s a positive aspect to talking about Hashgachah Pratis—talk that is focused on the Ribbono shel Olam and His great miracles—so too are we exhorted not to talk about certain things... such as excessive talk about money and wealth.
Such talk drags us down and distances us from the Ribbono shel Olam. It is lamentable that it has become so common to talk about wealth and wealthy people... how to access them, how to find favor in their eyes... all of which is the direct opposite of emunah in Hashem Yisborach.
It Is Unbefitting to Talk Excessively About Money
Ehrliche Yidden know that there are certain things that it is unbefitting to talk about. Even if it is permitted according to halachah to discuss it, it is still unbefitting for a yerei Shamayim to talk about it. One example is excessive discussion about food. The venerated chassid Reb Aron Yosef Brizel of Yerushalayim would say that talking excessively about food has a more materialistic effect (מגשם) on the neshamah that actually eating the food.
Similarly, a Yid must speak differently about money. It shouldn’t be “normal” to talk about how he will pursue the rich person to give him a large sum of money, etc.
So, it’s wonderful that we invest in emunah and bitachon. But we must be careful not to go from there to talking about how to get access to the gevir....
This is akin to saying: “It is true that I spoke and heard stories of Hashgachah Pratis. This is all well and good. But when it comes to my needs, I need to fend for myself... because, at the end of the day, I need the money....”
Don’t Be Dragged Along in the Current
We’re unaware just how much we hear this talk all around us. On the one hand, there are so many stories of Hashgachah Pratis, but so often they’re drowned out by all the talk about money and wealth.
The reality is that so much of the talk surrounds money. We live in such a foolish world, in which we allocate inordinate amounts of honor to wealth and money—we would need outsized vessels to carry all the honor that is given to money and wealth. This gives the false impression that we’re reliant upon the money of those wealthy people, and we don’t realize how much this distances us from the Ribbono shel Olam.
So, what is the eitzah to remain clear-eyed and clear-minded in this area? The only eitzah is to reiterate, again and again, that we do not want to trust in people. The Ribbono shel Olam Himself will provide for all our needs. It is not our worry how, and through whom, the money will come!
Receiving Money Without Pursuing It
A Yid recently related a personal anecdote in this vein. He was about to finalize a shidduch, and his wife told him, “How can you make the shidduch when you don’t even have the money to make the l’chaim?!” But the Yid was mechazek himself with emunah and bitachon... refusing to let money interfere with the shidduch. He indeed closed the shidduch, without knowing how he would pay for the l’chaim or for the shadchan.
Not a few hours passed, and he received a phone call from an old acquaintance who wanted to meet him. He explained that he borrowed a large sum of money from him a long time ago, and now he wanted to repay the loan....
The chiddush of the story is that this Yid didn’t have to pursue anyone or flatter anyone or evoke the sympathies of anyone. He relied purely on the Ribbono shel Olam, and Hashem arranged that he should receive his own money, without having to impress anyone.
Favor, Too, Is from Above
Even when a Yid does need a favor or a donation from another person, the proper approach is to do so with bitachon—knowing that it is the Ribbono shel Olam Who is giving him the money, and he doesn’t need to work to impress that person.
When we daven טוב ושכל חן ונמצא — we should find favor and grace in the eyes of Hashem and man, it doesn’t mean that we need to work overtime to find favor in the eyes of people—but that Hashem should give us chein... and then we ourselves will wonder, “I don’t know why this person approached me; somehow, I was חן נושא in his eyes without doing anything on my part.”
Unimpressed
A Yid related the following story that he himself heard from the person with whom it took place: He was raising money for an important cause, and he managed to get an appointment with a very wealthy individual. But, he was told, he can have only one minute—sixty whole seconds—in which to make his pitch.
The Yid spent hours in thought of how to make the best elevator pitch so that he would get the maximum donation. And after all these hours—which he probably called “hishtadlus,” but were really hours spent on bitachon in humans—he decided to say the following words to the gevir: I want to give you the opportunity to save the world!
Arriving at the appointment with his line prepared, he said to the gevir, “I want to give you the opportunity to save the world.” The wealthy man didn’t even blink as he responded, “Saving the world?! That’s what I’ve been doing for the last twenty years!”
The petitioner was shocked. He thought he had an original line that no one ever thought of... but the gevir was thoroughly unimpressed—after all the thought that he invested.
