Questions To Rabbi Mandel
Question: I myself live in America. But the war that’s going on in Eretz Yisroel with all that the Arabs are doing is leaving me with a lot of anxiety; I’m always fearful that someone will hurt me. Yes, I know that I have to work on my Bitachon. But how can Rebbi guide me to which Avoda I should start with, and what is the right perspective in general from a Bitachon approach?
Answer: Now, a Yid has a Mitzva to have Bitachon. The Chofetz Chaim says that by having Bitachon, you don’t have to worry about Chevlei Moshiach. Even just working on having Bitachon is one of the biggest Mitzvos in your life, so you have to spend a while learning about Bitachon.
Now, one should try to get the stress of dying out of their system, because no one lives forever anyway. Now what’s the worst that will happen? You get a Mitzva no matter what happens! You are working on Bitachon, and if Chas V’shalom you get killed, what’s so terrible? You are dying Al Kiddush Hashem, and you go straight to Gan Eden. Where does it say that you have to live forever? That’s also a form of Bitachon. But you've got to be tough on yourself, and say: "Who cares if you die? There is no prohibition to die”.
Another approach I always say is, what’s wrong with being nervous and having anxiety? Its M’chaper all your sins! Be happy! Loosing sins by the pain you are having is more important than all the wars of the world; and you should thank Hashem for them verbally: “Thank You Hashem so much for all the fears that I have”.
All approaches mentioned here are big Mitzvos, whatever you choose. Don’t have pity on yourself. There is no Mitzva to do that.
