05 May PARSHA IN PRACTICE: SKILLS FOR BETTER LIVING BEHAR – A PROPER LACK OF FAITH

When is it
appropriate to
NOT believe in
Hashem?
Parshas Behar
opens with the laws of shemitah,
including Hashem’s promise to provide
for the Jewish people throughout the
year that their fields are left fallow.
The Torah then suddenly shifts to
discuss the obligation to support a
fellow Jew in financial need. What is
the connection between these two
topics, shemitah and charity? Or, to
paraphrase Rashi’s opening comment
on the parshah, “mah inyan shemitah
eitzel tzedakah?”
Rav Moshe Shternbuch shlita (Ta’am
VaDa’as 25:35) explained that
sometimes a person can become “too
frum” at the wrong time. Consider
the field owner who puts his trust in
Hashem and abandons his crops for

an entire year. Imagine how inspired
he feels when he sees that, indeed,
Hashem miraculously provides for him
– just as He had promised! Now, what
will happen the next time this farmer
opens the door and sees a pauper
seeking financial assistance? Based
on his recent, personal experience,
he might feel justified in preaching
to the collector on his doorstep, “My
brother, do not worry about food or
money! Go home and put your faith
in Hashem, and He will surely provide
for you – just as He provided for me
during shemitah!”
But this is a misguided and insensitive
attitude. One should never hold others
to his own high religious standards.
He may only preach bitachon to
himself, not assume it at the expense
of others. It is for this reason that
the Torah discusses the obligation to
give charity immediately following

Hashem’s assurance
of continued
sustenance during
shemitah. Even
after attaining the
highest degree
of emunah in
the course of the
Sabbatical year, the
landowner must
maintain personal
responsibility to
help those who
approach him for tzedakah. He should
not “have faith” that it is Hashem who
will surely provide for them.
The Satmar Rebbe zt”l once spoke
about how even the worst character
traits could be utilized for Avodas
Hashem, as there was an appropriate
way and circumstance to use even
the most terrible of midos. A
daring audience member called out

skeptically, “What about kefirah? Is
there ever an appropriate situation to
NOT believe in Hashem?”
The Satmar Rebbe smiled and replied,
“Yes, when someone reaches out his
hand and asks for money, you should
NOT believe that Hashem will find
some other way to provide for him.
You must open your heart and your
wallet and give generously, as if his
wellbeing depends on you!”