Rav Aryeh Leibowitz
Adapted by Micah Hyman
Last week we discussed R.
Bachya’s definition of bitachon and that a person should view God as the
ultimate source for all that transpires.
This week, we address the issue of hishtadlus. R. Bachya asks: If God is orchestrating the
world, why do we need to do hishtadlus?
He provides two perspective:
First, Hashem wants to test man.
It isn’t difficult to have true bitachon when manna is falling
from the sky. However, when a man must work
hard for his living, it is difficult to attribute his successes and failures to
Hashem. Moreover, the work place is ripe
with tests of one’s bitachon. Opportunities
to cheat, or even cut corners, is one example.
If one truly believes that God provides parnasah, it would be
obvious that God does not desire one to cheat to receive it. Hence, the entire framework of hishtadlus
provides opportunities to truly express our faith in God.
In addition, R. Bachya notes that
the system of hishtadlus keeps man occupied. When a person is busy with work, he has
little time for sin.
According to these reasons an
interesting point emerges. The amount of
hishtadlus one needs to exert can be drastically reduced if a person is
already in possession of true bitachon and uses his free time
productively. In such a situation, the
primary reasons mentioned by R. Bachya are less applicable.
In his discussion of hishtadlus,
R. Bachya also emphasizes that hishtadlus does not function in the
normal way of cause and effect. That is,
Hishtadlus does cause the effect, but only indirectly. According to R. Bachya, exerting the proper
and necessary histadlus is a condition to receive the bounty of
God. However, the effect is not the
direct result of one’s hishtadlus.
In terms of livelihood, we would
say that doing the necessary hishtadlus is needed so that you can receive
the salary Hashem wants to give you.
In light of this perspective, one
is advised to choose an enjoyable job, and seek out a profession that suits one’s
natural abilities. One needn’t over-concern himself with choosing
the highest paying professions. Better
to find a job that will allow him to fulfill his “chiyuv hishtadlus”
in the best way, and leave the actual salary to God. It is always good to speak with a Rav and
professional people familiar with your line of work to determine what hishtadlus
is expected and what would constitute going beyond the chiyuv hishtadlus.
Rabbeinu Bachya cautions that one
maintain the proper perspective on hishtadlus. When one heads to work, he
should realize that beyond the intrinsic value of his specific profession – for
example, the fact that he heals people if he is a doctor or that he protects
the right of the innocent or allows for proper commercial interactions if he is
an attorney – his profession is a means of fulfilling his chiyuv hishtadlus. This perspective will hopefully prevent a
person from ever sacrificing his values to make extra money. Remember, Hashem is in charge of the money,
not you!
It should be noted that bitachon
and hishtadlus are very broad topics, and different Rishonim held different
views on these issues.
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