30 Jun PINCHAS: FROM HASHEM

It states in Pirkei Avos
(2:3) “Be careful
from the government
because they do not
befriend someone
unless it is for their
own benefit. They
appear like they love,
when it is good for
them, but they don’t
stand by the person
when he needs help.”
Rabbeinu Yonah
teaches us essential
lessons in emunah
and hashgachah pratis in his explanation of
this Mishnah. He writes, “The government
officials, their love and also their hatred,
aren’t by their own choice. When a
government ruler needs a person, and
he shows him love and befriends him,
it is arranged by Hashem, and not by the
official. Hashem arranged that this ruler
should help him. If a person sins, and
Hashem wants to push him away… even if
the ruler wants to honor him, he won’t be
able to… This is as it states (Mishlei 21:1)
‘Like streams of water is the heart of a
king in the hand of Hashem. Wherever He
wishes, so He directs it.’ A person can direct

a stream of water to go in any direction he
wants. This is also how it is with the hearts
of kings. They are in Hashem’s hands, and
He directs them to do kindness to whom
Hashem desires, or to punish those who
deserve punishment… It states ‘the heart
of a king,’ and it doesn’t speak about other
people, although the hearts of all people are
in Hashem’s hands. The pasuk emphasizes
kings because it appears that a king can do
as he pleases. But the truth is that he can’t
do good or bad. It is all Hashem’s word.”
Rabbeinu Yonah is telling us that
everything is from Hashem. It isn’t a king’s
kind heart, and it isn’t a friend’s kind heart.
Like a stream of water, everyone’s hearts
are in Hashem’s hands, and He directs
them according to His will.
Everyone Can Trust in Hashem
The Yerushalmi (Brachos 5:1) teaches:
Reb Chizkiyahu said in the name of Reb
Yehudah, “Never let this pasuk leave your
mouth: (Tehillim 46:8) “Hashem… is
with us, a stronghold for us is the G-d of
Yaakov.”
Reb Yosi said in the name of Reb Yehudah,
another pasuk should always be on a
person’s lips. This is (Tehillim 84:13)

“Hashem… praiseworthy is the man who
trusts in You.”
The Shefa Chaim (Klausenberg Rebbe
zt’l) explains that the first pasuk (Tehillim
46:8) Hashem Tzivakos Imanu Misgav
Lanu Elokei Yaakov Selah, tells us that
tzaddikim can trust in Hashem. Therefore,
the pasuk mentions Elokei Yaakov “the G-d
of Yaakov” which refers to tzaddikim. The
second pasuk reveals that every person can
trust in Hashem, and Hashem will help him,
as it states (Tehillim 84:13) “praiseworthy
is the man who trusts in You.” This refers to
every man, no matter who he is.
The Yerushalmi (Brachos 9:1) tells that
Rav went to Teveria, and Roman officers
asked him who he was. He told them that
he was close to Safiyanus (one of the
Roman officials). They let him go free.
That night, the officials met with Safiyanus,
and they asked him why he protects Jews,
and they told Safiyanus what Rav told
them. Safiyanus replied, “I don’t know
who he is. What did you do to him?”
The officers replied that they didn’t do
anything to him because they thought he
was together with Safiyanus. Safiyanus
replied, “Good. I am glad you didn’t harm

him. He relied on me, so he shouldn’t be
harmed.”
The Yerushalmi concludes, “If one is saved
by relying on a human being, certainly
when one relies on Hashem, he will be
saved.” This is as it states (Yoel 3:5) “It
will be that anyone who calls in the Name
of Hashem will escape.”
The Shefa Chaim explains that we can
learn from this Yerushalmi that everyone
can trust in Hashem. Rav was distant from
Safiyanus, but he deserved to be saved
and protected because he relied on him.
So, too, whoever trusts in Hashem, even
if he is distant from Hashem (because
he isn’t cautious with the mitzvos, etc.),
nevertheless, since he trusts in Hashem, he
deserves to be saved.