06 Dec BITACHON AND CONFIDENCE

In this week’s parashah (34:25) the Torah tells us that when Shimon and Levi attacked Shechem, they possessed bitachon. As it states, ויבאו†אל†העיר

בטח†≠†, “And they came to the city with

bitachon.”

Shimon†and†Levi†were†two†people†fighting†an entire city. What were the chances that they would succeed? But the Torah tells us that they came , בטח†secure†in†the†knowledge

that Hashem will help them, and indeed He did.

Rashi†writes¨†“They†were†confident†˛they†would win the war] because the people of Shechem†were†in†pain†˛and†weak†from†the†milah].”

Rashi quotes a Midrash that states another reason†they†were†confident†that†they†would†win the war. “The Midrash says that they trusted†in†the†strength†of†the†old†one†©†בטוחים

היו†על†≠†כחו†“Æ®של†זקן

Who was “the old one”? Some meforshim say that Rashi means they trusted in Yaakov Avinu’s†strengthÆ

As the Midrash (Bereishis Rabba 80) states, “Yaakov Avinu didn’t want his children†to†˛wage†this†war†against†Shechem¸Æ†But after they did so, he said to himself, ‘Will I allow my children to fall into the hands†of†the†goyimø’

“What did Yaakov do? He took his sword and bow and stood at the entrance of Shechem. He said, ‘If the nations come to fight†with†my†children¨†I†will†fight†with†them…’” Shimon†and†Levi†were†confident†that this would happen, and they trusted that Yaakov’s†great†strength†would†save†themÆ

Others explain that Shimon and Levi trusted†in†Avraham†Avinu’s†tefillosƆAvraham†Avinu davened for them, as it states (Bereishis 12:6 ©¨†ויעבור†אברם†≠†בארץ†עד†מקום

שכם†¨†“And†Avram†passed†through†the†land

until Shechem.” Rashi writes, “Avram went there to daven for Yaakov’s children who would†fight†a†war†with†ShechemÆ”

He foresaw the future of the Jewish nation and davened for their success. Shimon and Levi†relied†on†his†tefillos†to†save†themÆ

As the Meor Einayim (Mikeitz) writes, “It is†known†that†the†avos†davened†during†their†lifetime for what will occur in the future up until†the†coming†of†Moshiach¨†may†it†be†speedily in our days.”

For example, at akeidas Yitzchak, Avraham said (Bereishis 22:5), ≠†ואני†והנער†≠†נלכה†עד

כ†ה†” ” ” , and כ†ה†hints to , כ†ה†כסלו†the date of

Chanukah. The Meor Einayim explains, “Avraham davened that his descendants should†win†the†war†against†the†Yevanim†in†the days of Matisyahu.

“Yosef HaTzaddik spoke to Binyamin and said (Bereishis 43:29), ; אלקים†יחנך†בני†the

word יחנך†hints to . חנוכה†˛Yosef†davened¸

that Hashem should perform miracles on Chanukah.”

The avos davened for us, too. We can be certain that our adherence to Yiddishkeit until today is due mainly to our avos’s tefillosƆAs†the†Meor†Einayim†writes¨†“Our†ability†to†be†strong†with†Torah†and†mitzvos†is all because our forefathers davened for us.”

Shimon and Levi trusted that Hashem would help them in the merit of Avraham’s tefillahƆAs†Rashi†writes¨†בטוחים†היו†על†≠†כחו

“Æשל†זקן

In review, the Torah tells us ,≠†ויבאו†על†העיר

בטח†Shimon and Levi came to Shechem, בטח

¨†confident†that†they†will†be†victoriousƆWe’ve explained various opinions as to what they†trusted†inƆAccording†to†Rashi’s†first†explanation, they were sure they would win the war because the population of Shechem were weak from the milah.

According†to†Rashi’s†second†explanation¨†they†trusted†in†the†strength†of†the†old†one†©†בטוחים†היו†≠†על†כחו†של†≠†זקן†” ( ƆThe†‘strength†of

the old one’ is either that Yaakov Avinu would protect them or that they trusted in Avraham†Avinu’s†tefillosÆ

Whichever explanation we follow, one thing†is†certain∫†Shimon†and†Levi†came†to†the†war†confident†that†they†would†winÆ

That†sureness†and†positive†thinking†were†necessary in order to succeed because one can’t win a war without bitachon. Therefore, when the Jewish nation went to war, the ) Torah†©Devarim†20∫8≠9†warns¨†מי†האיש†הירא

≠†ורך†הלבב†ילך†≠†¨וישב†לביתו†ולא†≠†ימס†את†לבב†≠

אחיו†כלבבו†“Who is the person who is afraid

and has a weak heart, he should return home. ˛He†shouldn’t†go†to†war¸¨†so†he†doesn’t†cause†his†fellow†man’s†heart†to†melt†˛from†fear] as he is afraid.”

Tzaddikim say that Napoleon once spoke with†one†of†his†generals¨†and†the†general†told†him that he thinks they will lose a particular battle. Napoleon replied, “If you would think we can win, we would. But since you are pessimistic, we will probably lose.” Because†to†win¨†you†have†to†feel†confident†that you can succeed.

Lions and Courage

In the Shulchan Aruch we are told to be strong†like†a†lion¨†as†it†begins¨†יתגבר†≠†כארי

לעמוד†בבקר†¨†“Be†mighty†like†a†lion†to†awaken

in†the†morningÆ”

Also, in Pirkei Avos (5:20) it states ÆÆƆהוי

גבור†כארי†≠†לעשות†רצון†אביך†≠†שבשמים†, “Be

mighty†like†a†lion†to†do†the†will†of†your†Father in heaven.” What is unique about a lion? The Taz (Orach Chaim 1:1) explains that†the†lion’s†strength†lies†in†its†courageÆ

He writes, “Naturally, the lion isn’t afraid of any animal, as it states (Yeshaya מקולם†לא

יחת†®†31:4 ¨†‘˛The†lion¸†isn’t†afraid†of†their

shouts.’ So too, a person shouldn’t be afraid of the yetzer hara, despite the fact that the yetzer†hara†is†stronger†than†himÆ”

Let’s explain the pasuk (ibid.) מקולם†לא†יחת

that the Taz quoted. The meforshim on Nach explain that when the lion eats its prey, many shepherds†gather†around†and†shout†at†it¨†מקולם†לא†יחת, but the

lion isn’t afraid of their shouts.

As†a†group¨†the†shepherds are certainly†stronger†than a lion, but the lion isn’t afraid of them. It is courageous¨†and†that†is†its†strengthÆ

We should apply that attitude to avodas Hashem. The yetzer hara is a malach and a trained†warriorƆTo†win†against†the†yetzer†hara†we†need†to†be†courageous¨†fearless¨†and†absolutely sure that we will succeed. We must believe that we can overcome the yetzer hara who entices us to bad taavos and aveiros.

How†can†courage†help†us†if†the†yetzer†hara†is†stronger†than†usø†Czar†Nikolai’s†army†would†fight†during†the†day†and†drink†at†nightƆOnce¨†one†soldier†drank†too†much¨†and he was still asleep when his troop moved onƆUpon†awakening¨†he†knew†he†had†to†catch†up†with†his†battalion†quickly¨†but†first¨†he†wanted†something†to†eatÆ

It†was†Friday†nightƆHe†came†to†a†Jewish†home and helped himself to the pot of steaming¨†hot†cholentƆHe†mounted†his†horse, placed the pot of hot cholent on the horse’s†mane¨†and†set†off†to†find†his†divisionƆThe hot cholent burned the horse’s back, which spurred the horse to run quickly. It didn’t†take†long†before†reaching†his†battalion¨†but†his†horse†kept†charging†forward¨†straight†towards†the†frontÆ

The†enemy†soldiers†saw†him†charging†full†speed†towards†them¨†and†they†got†scaredƆThey assumed that he undoubtedly possessed a powerful weapon since he wasn’t afraid to face them alone.

They†fled†in†panicƆIn†this†manner¨†Czar†Nicolai’s†army†won†the†war†without†firing†a†single†gunshotƆReb†Mendel†Futterfass†zt’l†told this story, and he explained that it is the same†with†our†battle†against†the†yetzer†haraƆIf†one†shows†courage†and†hislahavus¨†the†yetzer hara will be afraid of him and leave him alone Reb Yaakov Meir Shechter shlita explained†the†power†of†courage†with†an†analogy∫

When†you†are†among†a†pack†of†dogs†and†show them that you are afraid, they’ll run after you. But if you show them that you aren’t†scared¨†the†dogs†will†leave†you†aloneÆ

Reb Yaakov Meir explained that this is also how it is with the yetzer hara. If you show fear and meekness in front of the yetzer hara, the yetzer hara can overpower you. But if†you†show†confidence†and†courage¨†the†yetzer hara leaves you alone.

The†Tanya†©chÆ26) writes¨†“There†is†a†great†rule that I must tell you: When two people are†wrestling¨†each†one†is†trying†to†throw†the†other†one†to†the†groundƆIf†one†of†them†is†lazy and moves about heavily, he will fall, even†if†he†is†strongerƆThe†same†is†true†with†the†war†against†the†yetzer†haraƆYou†can’t†win this war with laziness and heaviness, which are products of sadness and a closed†heart†≠†hard†like†a†stoneƆYou†only†win†the battle with zrizus, which comes from an open, pure heart, clear from all worldly worries and sadness.”

So¨†it†isn’t†always†the†stronger†one†that†wins†the†war¨†but†rather†the†more†courageous†oneƆHe†will†ultimately†emerge†victoriouslyÆ

Leopards and Brazenness

We are also told to be like brazen leopards. As Chazal (Avos 5:20) tell us, ÆÆƆהוי†עז†≠†כנמר

וגבור†כארי†≠†לעשות†רצון†אביך†≠†שבשמים†, “Be

brazen†like†a†leopard†and†mighty†like†a†lion†to do the will of your Father in heaven.”

In†addition†to†being†like†the†mighty†and†courageous†lion¨†we†must†be†like†the†brazen†leopard, too.

Ra’v Bartenura explains, “The leopard isn’t powerful, but it’s brazen. You should also have azus, brazenness.

Don’t be embarrassed to ask your teachers when you don’t understand. As Chazal say, לא†הבישן†למד†, the embarrassed one doesn’t

learn.”

Shulchan Aruch (1:1) describes what it means to be brazen. ולא†יתבייש†≠†מפני†בני†אדם

המלעיגים†עליו†≠†בעבודת†הי†ת†” , “Don’t feel

embarrassed†before†people†who†laugh†at†you†in Hashem’s service.”

Two†things†prevent†a†person†from†serving†Hashem∫†One†is†the†lack†of†courageª†he†doesn’t†believe†he†has†the†strength†to†fight†the yetzer hara. The second deterrent comes from†people†who†laugh†at†himÆ

We must overcome these fears. Be like a lion†and†a†leopardƆBe†courageous†and†boldƆBelieve†in†your†strengths†and†abilities¨†and†don’t let other people’s opinions stop you from†doing†what†you†know†is†rightÆ

Once, the Kedushas Yom Tov attended a rabbinic†meeting¨†together†with†his†son¨†Reb†Yoel (who later became the Satmar Rebbe zt’l). Reb Yoel davened with unusual hand gestures†that†helped†him†have†kavanahÆ

One†of†the†rabbanim†thought†it†was†funny†and asked Reb Yoel, “Is today Purim?”

Yoel†replied¨†“If†I†knew†I†would†be†meeting†Haman¨†I†would†bring†along†my†gragerÆ”

Haman and Amalek make fun of yiras shamayim.

As it states, , אשר†קרך†בדרך†“Who cooled

you†off†along†the†wayÆ” We†must†serve†Hashem†with†confidence†and†audacityƆWe†shouldn’t be afraid to serve Hashem with fervorƆAs†it†states†at†the†beginning†of†Shulchan†Aruch¨†≠†ולא†יתבייש†≠†מפני†בני†אדם

המלעיגים†עליו†≠†בעבודת†ה†יתברך†’ ¨†“Don’t be

afraid when people make fun of you when you†are†serving†HashemÆ”