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Dear Yeshiva Family:
This week's parshah features the famous story where Bilaam attempts to curse Klal Yisrael, and Hashem, in His infinite mercy, transforms these curses into blessings, benefiting His nation instead of harming them.
What sets this incident apart from other stories in the parshiyos until now—from Noach, the Avos (our forefathers), the shevatim (tribes), and others—is that Klal Yisrael had no awareness of being in mortal peril. Bilaam's curses had the potential to annihilate Klal Yisrael; he had them squarely in his sights. Bilaam knew precisely when and how to unleash a curse that could have wiped us out. Yet, Hashem denied him that opportunity, saving us while we remained oblivious to any danger. As Tehillim (121:4) declares, Hashem neither slumbers nor sleeps; He is our guardian!
This protection extended to Klal Yisrael is profoundly reassuring. The Pesach Hagada reminds us that in every generation, there are those who plot against Klal Yisrael, and it is only through Hashem's intervention that we are saved. This means that even during periods like the golden age of Spain or America, when everything seemed to be going well, there was an undercurrent of danger. Just as in Bilaam's time we were blissfully unaware of the peril, Hashem was quietly ensuring our safety.
Rabbi Itzele Volozhiner raises a question about the passage we read in Hallel (Tehillim 117:1-2): "All nations praise Hashem for His kindness has overwhelmed us." Why would the nations of the world praise Hashem for His kindness toward us? He explains that often, we are unaware of the full extent of the miracle because we do not know the details of the plans nations had against us. Only they knew what they were plotting and how their schemes were thwarted, making them the ones who should declare praise.
On a personal note, this past week I purchased a used van and discovered after the transaction that the seller was not fully honest, and that this situation would result in a material financial loss. I reached out to several professionals who said there was nothing I could do to remedy the situation. Baruch Hashem, by the time this D'var Torah was set to print, the sellers acknowledged their "mistake" and I did not lose the money. But until that happened, I was distraught over the situation.
My initial reaction was to remind myself that these situations happen. People face far worse consequences—mistakes can lead to loss of life or break marriages, so a material financial loss, though significant, isn't the end of the world. In a year's time, I might look back and help reassure the next person who faces a similar situation. However, upon deeper reflection, I realized this incident perfectly coincided with this week's Parshah. In every generation, there are those who seek to harm us, sometimes without our awareness. If Hashem could shield our nation from mortal threats like those posed by Bilaam, surely He could protect me from a couple of scammers, even if I was oblivious to their deceit. This experience became a profound lesson in bitachon (trust and reliance on Hashem).
Bitachon means trusting in Hashem. Here, I am not addressing the question of whether or not to take practical steps (hishtadlus); that's a separate issue, and often there may be nothing practical to do. Bitachon entails firmly believing that we are in good hands, remaining calm, and understanding that the best possible outcome is unfolding.
It's interesting to recognize that everyone lives with trust (bitachon); the question is where we place that trust. We consistently place our trust in various things, and our task is to learn to place this trust in Hashem. For instance, when someone crosses a street, they trust in societal norms that an oncoming car will stop at a red light to allow safe passage. They trust in law enforcement and the system of rules and consequences that enforce traffic laws. They even trust that the pavement ahead of them is stable and not wet. If any of these factors were uncertain, they might hesitate to leave their house.
Consider two levels of trust in the strength of a newly purchased chair. If someone is unsure about the stability of the chair, he might sit down cautiously, lowering himself inch by inch until he is confident the chair can support him. In contrast, someone who trusts the chair would have no hesitation putting his full weight on it. The question is how we develop bitachon in something. The answer lies in experience: everything must earn our trust. Through living and learning, we come to rely on things that have proven themselves to us. Once we have learned that a sidewalk, or a chair, can support us securely, it has earned our trust, and we no longer think twice about using it.
Trust is a fundamental component in marriage, and it can only be earned over time. While someone may be naturally trusting and inclined to trust others, there's a notable difference between the trust one has in a spouse of just one week and the deep trust developed over 50 years of a happy marriage. If trust is somehow lost in a relationship, it requires diligent efforts to rebuild the relationship. Gradually, trust can grow—whether in a person, an object like a car, or a system like democracy.
Similarly, our trust in Hashem follows a similar path. Through the teachings of our ancestors, we have learned about Hashem's capabilities and His involvement with our nation. Hashem does not necessarily demonstrate His power through overt miracles in every generation, but we have many mitzvos that remind us of those ancient miracles. The more we tell over these stories of Hashem taking us out of Mitzrayim on Pesach, or tell the story of Bilaam, the deeper our trust in Hashem becomes.
Yet, there's more to it. Once we have a belief in Hashem, we can see His presence every day. By focusing on how Hashem helps us and others daily, and recognizing that we are in His hands, our trust in Hashem grows exponentially. Just as we can cultivate trust in a chair by relying on its stability, we must cultivate our trust in Hashem by reflecting on all the ways Hashem has cared for us and His people—both through direct experience and through the stories passed down by our parents.
There are two exercises that can be utilized to calm oneself when facing dark times. The key is to recognize that we are completely in Hashem's hands, and He has both the power and the desire to grant us the best possible life. To achieve this calmness, one must surrender and acknowledge that Hashem is ultimately in charge. One effective method is to harness the power of imagination and visualize the following scene:
As Dovid Hamelech proclaims in Tehillim 23:1, "Hashem is my Shepherd." One can imagine oneself as a simple sheep under the watchful eye of a caring shepherd. Visualize being a sheep that knows nothing but trusts implicitly in the shepherd, who, being human, operates on a higher level of understanding. No matter how knowledgeable or clever the sheep may be, it cannot reach the level of even the simplest shepherd—it's a completely different plane of comprehension. Envision yourself as that sheep looking up to Hashem and saying, "You are my Shepherd, please guide me through this. I have no one else to turn to!"
While this exercise may sound unconventional, it is tremendously powerful and encouraging. A sheep has nothing to worry about when it has a shepherd; it trusts that someone else is making the decisions and knows better. Singing Tehillim 23 during Shalosh Seudos (the third meal of Shabbos, when this chapter is customarily sung) with this visualization can imbue the song with deeper meaning.
Here's another exercise: Imagine being in a situation similar to mine—facing a significant loss with seemingly no way out. Suddenly, you remember that you have access to one of the world's most skilled lawyers, with connections to the highest levels of government. Instantly, your mood changes; there is hope! Just bring in this lawyer, and you feel calm and relief that you will be OK!
However, the feeling of relief and hope should be even greater when you realize that you have someone far more powerful at your disposal: you are a child of Hashem! Hashem can do much more than any lawyer or government official. Someone with true bitachon wouldn't worry any more than our friend with access to top lawyers. If someone would feel greater relief at the realization of having a connection to the lawyer than he does at the realization that he is a son of Hashem, then there is still work to do on his bitachon!
May we all cultivate a true relationship with Hashem, learning to believe that He always has our best interests at heart and is perpetually watching over us. Let this trust lead us to live happier, more secure lives!
Have a great Shabbos!
Rabbi Moshe Revah Rosh HaYeshiva, HTC - Beis HaMidrash LaTorah moshe.revah@htc.edu | 
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