By Rabbi Baruch Lederman
SAN DIEGO — Emunah (faith) and Bitachon (trust) are two bedrocks of Judaism. We have emunah and bitachon in Hashem, our G-d. The difference between these two related concepts can be illustrated by a joke, told to me by my colleauge Rabbi Dovid Max, Community Torah Center of Bucks County, Richboro, PA:
Moishe is being indoctrinated by the Russian government:
Govt. Official: “If you had a yacht, what would you do with it?”
Moishe: “Give it to Mother Russia.”
Govt. Official: “And if you had a palace, what would you do with it?”
Moishe: “Give it to Mother Russia.”
Govt. Official: “And if you had a sweater, what would you do with it?”
No reply.
Government official asks the question again.
And still not reply.
Finally he shouts: “Moishe, why don’t you reply?”
Moishe: “Because I have a sweater.”
If someone askes you to lend them a thousand dollars, you have faith that they will pay you back – that is emunah. If you actually hand over the money, you put your trust in them that they will pay you back – that is bitachon.
Without emunah, without faith in Hashem, we have nothing. Bitachon takes that emunah to a whole new level. Not only do we believe in Hashem, we put ourselves on the line to follow His Torah and Mitzvos.
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Rabbi Lederman is spiritual leader of Congregation Kehillas Torah. He may be contacted at baruch.lederman@sdjewishworld.com