Expressions of Faith

For those hard pressed to explain the difference between emunah and bitachon, many turn to the story of a village that suffered a long drought. The townspeople gathered to pray with utmost devotion for rain, but only one person brought an umbrella.

Everyone who came to pray had emunah. They believed that Hashem is powerful and can send rain. But the one who brought the umbrella didn’t just believe Hashem could — he trusted that Hashem would answer their prayers.

Many people act on their bitachon, their trust in Hashem, by doing things that express confidence that He will bring about something good even before it happens. These are often called segulot, but they are really acts of bitachon, showing trust that Hashem will bring blessing at the right time.

For example, singles who are struggling to find their bashert are sometimes encouraged to buy their wedding dress or suit even before they are engaged. Buying a wedding outfit before the engagement shows bitachon that Hashem will soon send the right match. It is a physical expression of faith, as if to say, “I am so sure He will help me find my spouse that I am already preparing for the wedding.”

After the Sukkot holiday ended, I received a clip in a WhatsApp group called Chadashot Mesamchot that combined two short videos into one powerful demonstration of bitachon. In the video, Avi Ohana, the father of hostage Yosef Chaim, stands by the door of his home, holding the Four Species. He explains that just before his son was kidnapped two years ago, he placed his hand lovingly on his son’s head and, without any knowledge of what was about to happen, told him that through these Four Species, Hashem would save him from death.

He then shared what had transpired before the holiday of Sukkot this year:

“I bought a new lulav and etrog, with G-d’s help. I believe wholeheartedly that Yosef Chaim will bless these Four Species this year, and that G-d will bring him back from captivity, him and all the hostages. May they all merit the power of the Four Species. May everyone bless them and bring merit to the hostages, G-d willing. And may we all achieve complete redemption — the redemption of the hostages. May they all return. May He protect and save them this Sukkot. We hope to see them whole and healthy. Amen, may it be G-d’s will.”

This is what it means to live with bitachon: to act, to speak, and to believe as though redemption is already on its way.

In the second video, spliced onto the first, Avi Ohana’s faith is rewarded in the most moving way. Yosef Chaim is seen blessing the lulav and etrog that his father had bought for him — in the final hours of the holiday, as Sukkot gave way to Shemini Atzeret and Simchat Torah. His father’s words came to fruition. His belief that his son would be able to make the blessing on the Four Species he had bought for him was a living demonstration of absolute bitachon.

Do you have bitachon in the coming of Moshiach b’karov?

Have you bought an outfit to greet him?

May Mr. Ohana’s words about achieving full redemption be fulfilled bimherah beyameinu. Amen.