Shaar HaBitachon- SoulWords

Siyum celebration following the completion of a class on the classic Shaar HaBitachon (Gate of Trust) from Rabenu Bachaye's Chovos HaLevavos.

Text-based class on the classic Shaar HaBitachon (Gate of Trust) from Rabenu Bachaye's Chovos HaLevavos.

Text-based class on the classic Shaar HaBitachon (Gate of Trust) from Rabenu Bachaye's Chovos HaLevavos.

Text-based class on the classic Shaar HaBitachon (Gate of Trust) from Rabenu Bachaye's Chovos HaLevavos.

Text-based class on the classic Shaar HaBitachon (Gate of Trust) from Rabenu Bachaye's Chovos HaLevavos.

Text-based class on the classic Shaar HaBitachon (Gate of Trust) from Rabenu Bachaye's Chovos HaLevavos.

Text-based class on the classic Shaar HaBitachon (Gate of Trust) from Rabenu Bachaye's Chovos HaLevavos.

Text-based class on the classic Shaar HaBitachon (Gate of Trust) from Rabenu Bachaye's Chovos HaLevavos.

Text-based class on the classic Shaar HaBitachon (Gate of Trust) from Rabenu Bachaye's Chovos HaLevavos.

Text-based class on the classic Shaar HaBitachon (Gate of Trust) from Rabenu Bachaye's Chovos HaLevavos.

Text-based class on the classic Shaar HaBitachon (Gate of Trust) from Rabenu Bachaye's Chovos HaLevavos.

Four more reasons why spiritual reward and punishment are not clearly stated in Tanach. (Chapter 4)

Three (out of seven) reasons why spiritual reward is not discussed clearly in Tanach. (Chapter 4)

The importance of bitachon in spiritual matters that involve other people such as performing acts of kindness. Avoid ulterior motives as well as seeking credit for your deeds. If you do receive honor remember that you were only the tool G-d chose for helping others. (Chapter 4)

More about trust as it relates to discharging our spiritual obligations. There’s no rule book on material matters so we have to have trust; but when it comes to morality we know what we should be doing and the rules never change. It is proper to have trust in spiritual matters once you have put […]

How to have trust in spiritual matters. When it comes to material matters, we need to trust that G-d will take care of things. But with spiritual matters, we need to use the free choice G-d gave us to actually improve our situation. (Chapter 4)

We discuss how to deal with our enemies and those who have hurt us. The person was only a messenger but the damage was decreed by G-d. (Chapter 4)

More about how trust in G-d factors in our interpersonal relationships. Not relying on people actually allows us to be genuine with them and have a real bond. (Chapter 4)

Trust in G-d is essential to healthy interpersonal relationships. Either you’re a stranger, or among people. When you feel like a stranger it’s time to connect with G-d. We’re all strangers. Rabenu Bachaye offers comfort for the lonely and isolated person. (Chapter 4)

Some healthy self-talk to meditate on when we’re financially stressed: There’s a right moment for everything, and G-d will provide you your livelihood when it’s time. If you only get what you need right now with no surplus it’s alright.G-d is giving you a livelihood based on what’s perfect for you and your unique needs. […]

One need not overwork or work unethically to get the money that is coming to him. Neither should one be mnentally preoccupied with making a living. Fear is the product of a toxic meditation. Faith is the antidote. (Chapter 4)

People often think that associating with wealthy people will somehow make them wealthy also and that this will bring them honor. But wealth itself isn’t honor; spending it properly is what is honorable. (Chapter 4)

There are two levels of sustenance: one's own personal needs, and the needs of those one provides for (family or employees). There are three possible errors one can make when in the position for providing for others. Either he might feel that he must compromise his values to get the money for all those he’s […]

One can do nothing to increase the amount of wealth that G-d has already allotted for him. Likewise, a healing only works because G-d wants it to. Sometimes a livelihood and healing come from a place other than where one was looking for them. We must pursue natural means in order to conceal the miracle […]

We continue to discuss appropriate ways of exhibiting trust in G-d. Even if one has trust, he still must act responsibly. (Chapter 4)

Just because G-d is running the world, doesn't mean you are allowed to put yourself in danger. One should not engage in risky behavior. (Chapter 4)

How to have proper reliance on G-d in one's material as well as spiritual matters. These categories also have many detailed subcategories which will be covered in the following classes. (Chapter 4)

Continuing the fifth preface, when making a vessel for a livelihood, choose a job that’s suited to you; and when you do it keep in mind that you’re fulfilling G-d's desire for people to work. Don’t become attached to a particular job, thinking it is the source of your livelihood. G-d is the only source […]

Continuing the fifth preface, sometimes righteous people seem to be working very hard for sustenance and wicked people seem to get everything handed to them. We look into some reasons why the righteous may face difficulties in receiving a livelihood as well as why the wicked may sometimes prosper. (Chapter 3)

Continuing the fifth preface, the reason G-d makes there be so many steps in maintaining our needs is in order to test us. One who passes this test will be given his sustenance without work. (Chapter 3)

The fifth preface: G-d's decree is the only real cause for anything. All other causes are just intermediaries in a process. When procuring those things that lie outside of ourselves, we must rely only on G-d by obeying His will for us. (Chapter 3)

Rabbi Taub answers several questions from students. No new text is covered in this class.

The fourth preface: obeying G-d's will. When G-d makes rules for us, He's trying to take care of us. Certainly, G-d can also be kind to those who are undeserving, however, trusting in G-d means following His program for us as outlined in Torah. (Chapter 3)

The second preface: G-d knows what we are really thinking.The third preface: Trust must be exclusively in God not combining trust in something else with trust in G-d.Doctors are but conduits through which G-d sends healing much like work is but a conduit through which G-d sends a livelihood. (Chapter 3)

Everything in creation is under G-d's complete control. In order to understand this we need to discuss the nature of existence and how G-d creates something from nothing.G-d alone creates something from nothing. We will gain no benefit from trying to manipulate the ‘somethings’ of the world. God determines how and where all the ‘somethings’ go […]

We introduce the Five Prefaces, one of which is to recognize that the seven qualities discussed in the previous lessons are found in G-d alone. (Chapter 3)

We examine the Scriptural proofs that show how G-d has each of the qualities enumerated in the previous class. The way we know that G-d has these qualities is not through logic alone, because G-d is not bound by logic. We know G-d has these qualities from how He transmits and communicates Himself to us, […]

What are the traits that elicit our trust? One worthy of our trust is compassionate, attentive, powerful, knows what’s good for us, is in constant control and complete control, and is kind to even those who are undeserving. Our trust will be complete if indeed we find one who has every single one of these […]

The Author's Introduction concludes with an overview of the seven chapters of Shaar HaBitachon.In a letter written to R' Mendel Shemtov a"h regarding health issues, the Rebbe tells him to learn Shaar HaBitachon. Rabbi Taub shares that this letter was one of the main inspirations for this class. We begin Chapter 1. What does trust […]

One with trust in G-d won’t feel the need to work difficult jobs such as working for the government. When choosing a livelihood, one never needs to make religious compromises.One who has trust will not be aggravated with life because he knows G-d is choosing a better good for him than he can for himself. G-d […]

Someone who trusts in G-d is happy when he has money because he can give charity and happy when he doesn't have money because he doesn't have to worry about protecting his wealth. His sense of security doesn’t come from money and his identity is not based on having or not having it. He views […]

Continuing the list of ten advantages of bitachon over alchemy. (Author's Introduction)

Rabenu Bechaye uses the example of an alchemist to bring out the advantages of trust in G-d. What is an alchemist and why is this a useful example even in our times? We begin the list of ten advantages of bitachon over alchemy. (Author's Introduction)

In answer to a student's question, Rabbi Taub explains that whatever source one relies on for sustenance will appear to have that power even though the truth is that only G-d is in charge. There are those that trust in other people, mistakenly believing that this will grant them security. Trusting in G-d means that […]

G-d desires the natural order and for us to make "vessels" for His blessings to reach us. We discuss the mistake of relying on money for security. Money can be lost, spent on doctor bills, or even cause problems. Someone who trusts in G-d does not rely on wealth for peace of mind or security. He does […]

In this first lesson, we begin to study the author's preface to his work and examine the definition of trust as well as the difference between trust and belief. Among the points discussed is that by choosing to believe in a ‘caretaker’ other than G-d, we cause ourselves to feel like we are actually dependent […]