IS EMUNAH THAT SIMPLE?

Dear Family

Hope everyone is well and enjoying Pesach.

Mazal Tov to Batsheva on her upcoming birthday. Sorry it can't be in london with us Batsheva, but it was nice having you here for Pesach at least!

Last week we spoke about EMUNAH (FAITH), and as a continuation I heard an interesting talk from The Rebbe this week, on Living Torah, on this very subject, which is strongly linked to Pesach. (Matzos through their 'humility' represent Emunah)

And the theme was the paradox that on the one hand Emunah implies total reliance on Hashem, and on the other hand we are also instructed that 'Man is born to TOIL'

TOTAL RELIANCE

In the Hagadda we read that when we came out of Mitzraim, Hashem Himself took us out ie 'not through a Saraf (Angel) and not through any other Messenger'

So surely if Hashem himself, who represents the ultimate of Goodness, decided to come down himself and take our Nation out from within another Nation, and take us as His own, we could presume that all our needs would therefore be provided thereafter.

And any independent efforts by us would actually be regarded as a lack of Trust and Faith!

MAN IS BORN TO TOIL

So how can we now reconcile the fact that Hashem expects from us to toil? Ie not only to work, but to work hard, with toil to attain our needs!

And the Rebbe answers this as follows.

When we receive without working or deserving, it is called bread of shame.

And Hashem does not want us to feel shame.

And so the Truth remains that Hashem is really providing all our needs.

And in addition He is allowing us to not feel shame, by giving us the opportunity to Toil!

I find this such an intricate interesting balance, with which we can examine and balance our own personal lives.

Gut Yom Tov and Gut Shabbos to all.