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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)
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Continuing the list of ten advantages of bitachon over alchemy.
(Author's Introduction)
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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 money as something that is passing through his hands at the moment and he only needs to make sure it gets to the places it's meant to go.
(Author's Introduction)
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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 takes care of us like a mother takes care of her baby. She swaddles and changes her baby which might feel uncomfortable to the baby, but it’s all for the baby's good and she’s doing it out of love. When we’re feeling discomfort we have to remember that G-d is taking care of every detail.
(Author's Introduction)
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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 really mean? Trust is a feeling.
(Chapter 1)
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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 qualities.
(Chapter 2)
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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, which is through the Torah, hence we use Scriptural sources.
G-d uniquely possesses all of the qualities that elicit trust.
(Chapter 2)
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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)
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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 at each moment.
We discuss the Rebbe's metaphor of "sewing wallets" in order to have more money.
(Chapter 3)
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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)
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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)
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Rabbi Taub answers several questions from students. No new text is covered in this class.
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