[Avodah] Two Levels of Bitachon

[Micha Berger via Avodah]

On Mon, Jun 22, 2015 at 05:32:42PM -0400, Prof. Levine via Avodah wrote:
: The following is from Rav Schwab on Chumash Parshas Shelach.
...
: There are two types of bitachon. The first is trusting in Hashem with "closed
: eyes," with no speculation about what may develop. However, there is
: a second kind
: of bitachon that is even greater than the first. This is the
: bitachon of "open eyes."
: One who follows this path looks ahead and sees clearly that the
: future might entail
: great danger, that his life may be full of trials and tribulations.
: Nevertheless, he
: does not hesitate, relying on Hashem to help him deal with whatever
: the future will
: hold...

I just want to point out that RSS here is assuming the descriptive
bitachon of the CI, not the prescrictive bitachon of Novhardok (and many
kiruv programs and religious fiction).

The Alter of Novhardok taught that bitachon causes positive results. If
you trust G-d enough, He will make things turn out the way you desire.

And when you point out to said public speaker that indeed life doesn't work
that way this idea gets modified into: Hashem will make things turn out
the way you'll be happy with once you get to the end of the road.

And while I'm being cynical about it, this is unassailable. If things don't
yet have a happy ending, it just means the story isn't over yet. You can
just push the long run out further and further until you find the happy
outcome you promised.

In Emunah uBitchon, the CI rejects this notion. He says that bitachon is
belief that things are working out according to Divine Plan. A believe in
how things run, not a belief that causes things to run right. Rather than
the comfort of knowing that you'll like the results, one aims for the
comfort that all of life's suffering has meaning and a purpose.

RSS presumes the latter and appears to be saying that one can then take this
trust in two different ways:
- Since Hashem is driving, I don't need to bother looking out the
  windsheild, it will just stress me out for nothing.

- Hashem and I are in partnership, so I cannot refrain from helping Him
  bring us to our destination, even when it involves heading for trials
  and tribulations.

Tir'u baTov!
-Micha

-- 
Micha Berger             Life is a stage and we are the actors,
micha at aishdas.org        but only some of us have the script.
http://www.aishdas.org               - Rav Menachem Nissel
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