Wings of Faith: Soar Above Life's Challenges: Rabbi Asher Zelig Rubenstein z'l on Shaar HaBitachon

By Yosef Tropper

Wings of Faith is a fantastic work, explaining Shaar HaBitachon with answers to life's crucial questions:

Why do we need to work ? (pg 73)

What is the best way to get brilliant business ideas?  (pg 74). 

What is the best way for a Jew to decide issues? (pg 78)

What is the most important principle of fundrais

• Language: English
• Publisher: DDC
• Release date: Nov 1, 2017
• ISBN: 9781843811718

Book preview

Wings

of Faith

Soar Above

Life’s Challenges

Rabbi Asher Zelig Rubenstein zt"l

on Shaar Habitachon

Transcribed and expanded by his talmid

Rabbi Yosef Tropper

Copyright © 2017 Rabbi Yosef Tropper

ISBN: 978-1-84381-171-8

All rights reserved

No part of this book may be reproduced or utilitzed in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording or by any information storage or retrieval system without written permission of the Author.

www.LevErez.com

Wings of Faith

A delicate dove was dragging his feet through life, feeling bad about himself and his problems. One day he met an older bird and began sharing his woes. The older bird said, That sounds really awful, but why don’t you just fly? How? asked the bewildered dove. Use your wings! exclaimed the older bird. Haven’t you ever noticed those feathers and bones attached to your body!? Just flap them and you will soar above it all!

When we go through life feeling bad about our challenges, we must remember that we have powerful wings. We have Wings of Faith that will carry us wherever we need to go. If you try to walk to a far destination on your own you will never be able to make it. But with wings of bitachon, you will soar with ease and arrive exactly how and where you need to be.

Every Jew is born with wings: Wings of Faith. Every Jew can fly.

(Excerpt from Essay 28)

Table of Contents

A Personal Note from the Author

Preface: A Great Endorsement

Introduction 1: About This Work

Introduction 2: What Is Bitachon?

Shaar HaBitachon: Introduction of Rabbeinu Bachya

Essay 1: The Most Important Quality

Essay 2: What Do You Rely On?

Essay 3: Choosing Blessing over Curse

Essay 4: How Does One ‘Not Lack Any Good’?

Essay 5: Can You Rely on Wealth?

Essay 6: Rich or Poor

Essay 7: Freedom to Do What’s Right

Essay 8: Alchemist versus Botayach Challenge

Essay 9: Botayach Wins

Essay 10: Bitachon Saves Lives

Essay 11: Perspective on Money

Essay 12: All for the Best

Essay 13: Reb Zishe’s Lesson

Essay 14: Tranquility and Support

Essay 15: Clean and Simple Job

Essay 16: Choose Your Path

Essay 17: Learning and Working

Essay 18: Earthy Efforts

Essay 19: Stress-Free Life

Essay 20: Infant’s Emotional Stability

Essay 21: Embrace of Hashem

Shaar HaBitachon: Chapter 1

Essay 22: How to Define Bitachon

Essay 23: Achieving Tranquility

Shaar HaBitachon: Chapter 2

Essay 24: Seven Prerequisites for Trust

Shaar HaBitachon: Chapter 3

Essay 25: What Leads to Bitachon?

Essay 26: Stories of Bitachon

Essay 27: Hashem’s Greatness

Essay 28: Wings to Fly

Essay 29: Jewish Suffering

Essay 30: The Highest Power

Essay 31: Becoming a Baal Bitachon

Essay 32: Chassidei Belz

Essay 33: The Puppet Master

Essay 34: No Backup Plan

Essay 35: Bitachon Really Works

Essay 36: Am I Disqualified from Bitachon?

Essay 37: Hashem’s Itinerary

Essay 38: Why Is Hishtadlus Required?

Essay 39: Hard Work Imperative

Essay 40: Purpose of Tests

Essay 41: Tzaddik V’ra Lo

Essay 42: The Mindset of Righteous Sufferers

Essay 43: Rasha V’tov Lo

Essay 44: Choosing a Profession

Shaar HaBitachon: Chapter 4

Essay 45: Practical Bitachon

Essay 46: Outward Actions, Inner Knowledge

Essay 47: Self-Care

Essay 48: Avoiding Danger

Essay 49: Doctors

Essay 50: Alternative Medicine

Essay 51: Necessities versus Luxuries

Essay 52: Job Perspective

Essay 53: The Messenger’s Credit

Essay 54: He Feeds Everywhere

Essay 55: Only Kosher Money

Essay 56: Honor and Wealth

Essay 57: Sweet Money versus Bitter Money

Essay 58: What If I Have Parnasah Challenges?

Essay 59: Alone with Hashem

Essay 60: Helping Others as a Puppet

Essay 61: Conduits of Hashem

Essay 62: When Asked to Be a Puppet

Essay 63: Bitachon Regarding Mitzvos

Essay 64: Gashmiyus and Ruchniyus Difference

Essay 65: Let Hashem Help You

Essay 66: Attitude for Helping Others

Essay 67: Olam Haba Reward

Essay 68: Why Is Olam Haba Omitted?

Essay 69: Reward and Olam Haba

Essay 70: Highest Level in Olam Haba

Shaar HaBitachon: Chapter 5

Essay 71: The Botayach’s Outlook

Essay 72: The Botayach Prevails

Shaar HaBitachon: Chapter 6

Essay 73: Uprooting Prepayment Demands

Essay 74: Hashem Will Take Care of You

Shaar HaBitachon: Chapter 7

Essay 75: Faith Life Cycle

Afterword: A Call to Action

Appendix 1: Collection of Thoughts from Sefer Madreigas Ha’adam

Appendix 2: In Context

Appendix 3: Sefer Pri Yaakov

Glossary

About The Author

Bonus Chapter for You

Notes

A Personal Note from the Author

by: Rabbi Yosef Tropper

My brother’s aufruf and Sunday wedding on October 27, 2013 were a most memorable weekend. My entire family and I were privileged to spend Shabbos with Rav Asher zt"l in Baltimore, Maryland only two months before his passing.

I walked with Rebbe to and from shul and sat with him at every meal. We conversed about many topics, including a very important shailah that my wife and I were facing regarding a vital decision in hishtadlus and bitachon.

After the wedding, I sat with Rav Asher privately for thirty minutes. We discussed various options regarding my question and he shared his daas Torah, words of encouragement, and his usual directive to use one’s strength to learn Torah and help others. He gave me some homework and left me with much to ponder. Little did I know this would be the last time I ever saw or spoke to him. After his fall, I was unable to reach him and our conversation remained far from complete.

On that dreadful motzei Shabbos of 25 Teves 5774 (December 28, 2013), the shocking news of Rebbe’s passing reached our family and we mourned bitterly. For me the loss was deep. My dear rebbe of fourteen years, my most trusted advisor, my role model, my father-figure who loved, cared about and encouraged me, had left this world. There can be no replacement.

I was also missing the completion of our conversation. Rebbe had told me that the answer to my shailah required much bitachon and recommended learning Chovos HaLevavos, Shaar HaBitachon, together with deep soul-searching to gain clarity.

Soon after his passing, I discovered a priceless treasure when I learned about a set of recorded vaadim that Rebbe had given on Shaar HaBitachon during the last three years of his life. Listening to almost forty hours of Rebbe’s voice was a most therapeutic and powerful experience for me. As I began to take in his words, the darkness of the world seemed to lighten and emes and clarity began to shine forth. It has been said that the hallmark of a well-spoken message is that the listener feels the orator is speaking directly to him. This was exactly the case. I was in awe at how each lesson was customized for my shailah and my exact needs. I began to listen and share Rebbe’s Torah with my wife and we rejoiced in the clarity that our newfound bitachon brought to our lives.

This sefer became a most meaningful and relevant project for me as I struggled to come to grips with Rebbe’s sudden passing. He left us all orphans, longing for his vibrant smile and brilliant speeches that penetrated the depths of our hearts and neshamos and awoke us to action.

These vaadim personify Rebbe’s lifework and it is my duty to share them with others so that they too can benefit from the wisdom, inspiration, and relevance of Rebbe’s mesorah.

I trust that you will be moved as I was and I pray that I have properly expressed Rebbe’s bitachon and convictions in writing.

Preface

A Great Endorsement

We often flip to the first page of a sefer to peruse the haskamos, approbations, which the writer received. When we see the haskamah of a special rabbi we begin to trust the author and feel that his work is worth our time and study. Imagine if you opened a sefer and saw the haskamah of Rav Moshe Feinstein. This would likely have meaning to you. What if you saw a haskamah from the Chofetz Chaim or Rav Chaim Ozer? You would probably be impressed. What if you found that Rav Akiva Eiger or the Vilna Gaon gave a haskamah to a work? This would pique your interest. Imagine if a pure and holy angel in heaven gave a haskamah to a work? That would be amazing!

The Chovos HaLevavos carries such an approbation. The malach hamagid, the angel who learned Torah with the Beis Yosef (Rabbi Yosef Karo, 1488–1575, author of Shulchan Aruch) put his seal of approval on the work. The angel instructed the Beis Yosef (Magid Meisharim, end of Parshas Behar): "Read a passage from Chovos HaLevavos every single day because he knew how to subjugate the yetzer hara like no one else."¹

This was the introduction that I heard from my rebbe, HaGaon Rav Asher Zelig ben Rav Yirmiyahu HaKohen Rubenstein, to encourage me to study Chovos HaLevavos. The sefer changed my life both through private study and especially through the thought-provoking shiurim, delivered by Rav Asher, covering Chovos HaLevavos and the path toward true service of Hashem.

Daily Study

Rav Asher did not just teach the words of Chovos HaLevavos; he lived them. He opened up each one-hour Gemara iyun shiur with a five-minute explanation of a passage from Chovos HaLevavos. This tradition was started by the Chasam Sofer (1762–1839) who began his shiur with a fifteen-minute study of a passage from Chovos HaLevavos.²

Rabbeinu Yehuda son of the Rosh (1270–1349) commanded his children to study the sefer (Tzava’as Geonei Yisrael, II:174). The Arizal (1534–1572) told his students to study Chovos HaLevavos every day in order to awaken their hearts to the service of Hashem. Rav Shmuel HaLevi Wosner (haskamah to Lev Tov) related that his holy rebbe, Rav Meir Shapiro of Lublin (1887–1933, founder of Daf Yomi), shared that his own grandfather (Rabbi Kurwitzer) testified that it was only after learning Sefer Chovos HaLevavos one thousand times that he merited to accomplish all that he did. Rabbi Meir Shapiro, too, began each shiur with a passage from Chovos HaLevavos, saturating his students with its deep lessons.

Chovos HaLevavos also carries another not so well-known haskamah. That is from Rabbeinu Tam (1100–1171), the great baal Tosfos and grandson of Rashi. In Sefer HaYashar (Shaar 2 and 4) Rabbeinu Tam praises Chovos HaLevavos as a vital sefer for an oveid Elokim calling it a "sefer kollel avodas ha-El Yisbarach…, a sefer that includes all of avodas Hashem, which restores the soul and provides a guide to proper living. He also says, an oveid Hashem should do six daily chores: First, he should connect with those who awaken him to serve Hashem — such as chachamim, chassidim, poor people, the sick, and those who are in pain. Second, stay away from those who discourage service of Hashem, such as vain pleasure seekers. Third, learn every day from the holy words of our Sages which will enlighten you. Learn Torah each day and delve into the works of tzaddikim such as that of the chassid, the righteous, Rav Bachya ibn Pekuda (Chovos HaLevavos) who reminds, awakens and teaches you how to serve Hashem... (see there for the remainder of the six chores)."

Teaching the Sefer

In my three years attending the Rosh Yeshiva’s blatt shiur, I went through the Chovos HeLevavos cycle with him once (like many, he skipped Shaar HaYichud in public as discussed below). Rav Asher was passionate about the holy words of the sefer and on a few occasions I recall him spending an entire hour expounding on the words of Chovos HaLevavos, showing us the importance of that particular lesson for life.

A story that Rav Asher shared with me personally sheds light upon his love of Shaar HaBitachon:

When he and his wife moved to Eretz Yisrael right after their wedding, their financial situation was dire. He told me that he and the Rebbetzin learned Chovos HaLevavos, Shaar HaBitachon together and learned to put their faith only in Hashem. Food was limited and so their satiation came from Shaar HaBitachon. It made a lasting impact on their service of Hashem (see Essay 3 where he recounts this story in greater detail).

Rebbe passed on this advice and told many of his students to study Shaar HaBitachon with their wives. He had numerous chavrusos with whom he studied in person and over the phone, delving ever deeper and further internalizing the words of Shaar HaBitachon. Because of its importance it was one of his favorite topics of limud and application.

Rebbe quoted Shaar HaBitachon in many shiurim and put his full trust in Hashem in a most awesome way. His emunah was awe-inspiring and contagious. He so deeply believed in the Kadosh Baruch Hu³ and that all that happens in life is for the best. His bentching was amazing to behold, as he emphatically enunciated his deep belief that Hashem is "hazan es ha’olam kulo b’tuvo, the Sustainer of the entire world in His Infinite Kindness and Hu nosain lechem l’chol basar, He (Alone) provides food for all."

Special Vaadim

Rebbe valued Shaar HaBitachon so much that for the last three years of his life (Elul 2010 through Teves 2013) he dedicated a weekly thirty-minute Tuesday night va’ad (10:00–10:30 p.m.) — in his Yeshivas Toras Simcha in Mattersdorf, Yerushalayim — to extrapolate upon its principles. These shiurim, made up of eighty-eight recorded tracks, comprised of almost forty hours of recordings, have been meticulously preserved by Rebbe’s close talmid Reb Eliyahu Hibbert, whom Rebbe instructed to carry on and share the shiurim with others. They cover the entire Shaar HaBitachon including one full cycle and the start of a second cycle that was tragically cut short (at the beginning of Chapter 4) by Rebbe’s hospitalization and sudden petirah. This sefer combines both cycles into one long version for the sake of clarity.

Rebbe’s Legacy Continues

Rebbe was taken away from us at the height of his energy and gusto, in the middle of so many projects to strengthen the yeshiva and Klal Yisrael. As his talmidim, we have taken it upon ourselves to carry forth his message and legacy of emunah. We wish to ensure that we will never forget the lessons of faithfulness and true avodas Hashem that he taught us through his actions and shiurim. Rav Aharon Feldman, Rosh Yeshivas Ner Yisrael in Baltimore, a close friend of Rebbe, instructed the talmidim of Rav Asher to take it upon themselves to put Rebbe’s teachings into writing and share them with others. This work is a transcribed and expanded version of Rebbe’s vaadim on Shaar HaBitachon, written by his close talmid.

The Ponovezher Rav was once asked why he never published any sefarim (his chiddushim on Shas Bavli and Yerushalmi were destroyed by the Nazis during the Holocaust). He responded, "I have indeed written thousands of sefarim!" The questioner showed his bewilderment and so the rav explained: "My day is spent building my talmidim and so I have no time to write. My students are my thousands of sefarim."

Rav Asher invested much attention, time and energy into each of his talmidim. We are his sefarim; we keep his message alive. I pray that Rebbe would consider myself and this publication worthy of being called one of his "sefarim."

Wings of Faith

This sefer was named Wings of Faith because the essence of bitachon is that it uplifts and carries one above challenges. It was called (Lev Erez) in Hebrew for multiple reasons. Firstly, it contains Rebbe’s initials, At the levayah, Rebbe’s son, Reb Mordechai, said his father was like an "erez — a cedar tree," strong in his emunah and avodas Hashem. Secondly, the tzaddik is referred to (Tehillim 92:14) as the "erez balevanon — cedar of Lebanon because of his great stature and unwavering faith. Thirdly, the word Lev — heart," refers to Rebbe’s life-mission and passion — to achieve and to teach emunah to Klal Yisrael. "Lev" also hints to the fact that this is a commentary to Chovos HaLevavos, Duties of the Heart. Lastly, Yaakov Avinu planted erez — cedar trees — when he went down to Egypt, so that when his future descendants would be redeemed from bondage they would carry out those cedars to build a mishkan in the desert (see Rashi, Shemos 25:5 and 26:15). Yaakov commanded his children to take the trees with them when they would leave Egypt. This would instill in their hearts a deep faith in Hashem’s future redemption. The cedar thus represents deep faith in Hashem regarding geulah, the transmission of that faith from one generation to the next, and the building of a dwelling place for the Shechinah on earth.

Rebbe’s lessons and efforts will continue to generate bitachon and inspiration in all of our hearts and the hearts of our children for all generations. As the Chazon Ish writes (Emunah U’bitachon, 4:11) A Rebbe’s power of Torah plants seeds of greatness in his children and students which will grow to maturation in the future. The berachah that Rav Asher received from his rebbe, Rav Chatzkal Levenstein (Ohr Yechezkel, Michtavim 377), was through your learning you will reach the level to be a powerful teacher of great students and impart in them a deep understanding of Torah.

Another sefer entitled Toras Erez: The Puppet Master is currently being written by this author and focuses on Rebbe’s shiurim on Chumash, Mo’adim, and hashkafah. The author prays that Rebbe’s zechus will help this sefer capture his intent and come to print in the near future with the help of Hashem.

Happy Life Formula

The topic of faith covered by Shaar HaBitachon is as personal and practical as it gets, especially when studying Rav Asher’s explanations that bring the sefer to life and set high standards for us. Rav Asher was never afraid to say it like it is. Truth must be shared, expressed clearly and put into action.

Chovos HaLevavos (Introduction) states that truth is found inside each person’s heart and it is our job to extract it. The source for this comment is found in the Gemara Sotah (9b): Words of truth are self-evident. Truth is found within; we must cultivate and nurture it to bring it to action.  Chovos HaLevavos (ibid.) states that the purpose of his sefer is: to clarify truth in our hearts and to help bring it to action through our bodies. This was Rebbe’s goal — to teach bitachon so that it could be understood with clarity and practiced with precision and enjoyment. Rebbe taught us how to act on the inner knowledge of truth, and he taught us that only one who lives with emunah can enjoy the most pleasurable life in this world and in the next.

The closing paragraph of Chovos HaLevavos, Shaar HaBitachon (end of Chapter 7) describes the baal bitachon in a way that all who knew Rebbe would think the words were prophetically written to describe him. "The baal bitachon lives life with more enjoyment and ahavas Hashem than any glutton alive who indulges in the greatest physical pleasures of Olam Hazeh." Rebbe lived a vibrant, happy life and taught us to achieve a most fulfilling experience as true and faithful servants of Hashem. Rebbe’s lessons from his vaadim and personal example live on in all who merited knowing him.

Shaar HaBitachon, taught by Rav Asher, contains the great formula for his success. It expresses his deepest lessons based on his mesorah, his most treasured convictions — with power, eloquence and sincerity, in a passionate manner befitting a Lev Erez, a strong and faithful heart. It teaches us how to soar through life on Wings of Faith.

Important Note

Rav Asher intended his explanations of Chovos HaLevavos to be thought-provoking and inspirational, however, he stressed that it is vital for each individual to think through the application of the lessons and to discuss decisions with one’s Rebbe. Rav Asher disapproved of people making swift and fanatical changes in their lives without consultation. He encouraged each person to carefully contemplate what Hashem wishes to see from him regarding avodas Hashem, bitachon and derech hachaim, and to gradually work towards those goals.

The present author feels that it is vital to note this point. One who reads the forthcoming essays will be moved or even jolted at times by the strong concepts and ideals expressed. The high levels discussed are most beautiful and inspirational, but they must be worked towards gradually and with proper guidance.

The author has strived to capture Rav Asher’s ideas and stay true to his intentions. If anything in this sefer appears incorrect, please do not attribute the mistake to Rav Asher. I ask mechilah from Rebbe if I misinterpreted or misrepresented his words. I hope that Rebbe will be a meilitz yosher for my family and that we will have the merit to serve Hashem with bitachon and simchah. I felt a tremendous siyata dishmaya as I transcribed and worked on this sefer and know that Rebbe’s merit helped produce a work that will inspire others and carry his message forward.

Each essay is self-contained and does not require accompaniment by the original text. However, a fuller understanding will be gained by studying the relevant passages inside Chovos HaLevavos. This translation covers all major parts of Shaar HaBitachon expounded upon by Rav Asher and is not complete in quoting the entire Shaar HaBitachon text as this was ruled too tedious and distracting for the reader.

This work contains four components:

1.         Rav Asher’s translation of the text of Shaar HaBitachon (bold lettering)

2.         Rav Asher’s stories (indented paragraphs)

3.       Rav Asher’s interpretations and discussions.

4.       The writer and editor, Rabbi Yosef Tropper’s expansions based on written, recorded, personal discussions with Rav Asher and research for details and theme development (incorporated into the text).

Editor’s notes are additions from Rabbi Yosef Tropper.

As you embark on studying this work I advise you to open your mind and heart and expect to see changes in many areas of your life, especially regarding your davening, your learning and your daily practical bitachon.

Thank You

Special thanks to my parents, Rabbi Moshe and Davida Tropper, for all of your encouragement in undertaking this project and for giving me the opportunity to learn in Eretz Yisrael for over five years under Rav Asher with your full support. Special appreciation to my father for his invaluable proofreading comments spanning the entire work.

Thank you to my in-laws, Reb Shloime and Susie Rosenberg of Monsey, NY for all your love and support and especially to my father-in-law whose mastery of the print process carried me from the beginning until the very end of this project, producing a beautifully presented sefer befitting of Rebbe’s Torah.

I express my gratitude to Mrs. Penina Zussman, a member of N’shei Toras Simcha whose early proofreading comments greatly enhanced the clarity and preservation of Rav Asher’s voice.

Special thank you to Rabbi Dovid Kahn of Feldheim Publications, who together with his talented team, took a personal interest in this project to ensure that it would be completed with professionalism and clarity. Thank you to our dedicated editor Mrs. Rochel Grossman, who listened to the Rav Asher’s speeches in his lifetime and with her meticulous editing and insightful suggestions ensured that Rav Asher’s voice was articlulate and powerful in writing as well.

I would like to publically thank mori v’rabi Rav Asher zt"l for all that he did for me over the years, including hours of hadracha, tefillah on my behalf, and for pushing me to grow in Torah and avodas Hashem. There has been no one else who compares in their profound impact on my life more than Rebbe zt"l. Words cannot express my love and hakaras hatov for all that you did for me and for my family. I promise to make sure that Rebbe’s thousands of tears on my behalf will not go to waste.

I would also like to express my hakaras hatov to tbl"c Rebbetzin Rubenstein and the entire Rubenstein family for opening up their home to me as a ben bayis and for sharing the Rosh HaYeshiva’s time with me without restriction. May Hashem send all of us a nechamah and may we merit to see Mashiach in our days.

Thank you to the Ribbono Shel Olam for giving me the zechus to learn Your Torah and to reach this day on which I can print my Rebbe’s lessons.

Last and foremost, thank you to my wife, Chaya, who encourages me each day to make Torah and bitachon the focus of our home and who, with great dedication, gave me the time to write this sefer. Without your unending support my writing would not have been possible. May Rebbe’s merit grant us health, success, and the ability to live with and grow in bitachon each day and to instill this in our family for all generations.

Yosef Tropper

Shushan Purim 5776

March 25, 2016

Baltimore, MD

Introduction 1

About This Work

Four important people must be discussed regarding Chovos HaLevavos and this sefer.

1.       Rabbeinu Bachya, author of Chovos HaLevavos (originally written in Arabic)

2.       Rabbi Yehuda Ibn Tibon, translator from original Arabic to Hebrew

3.       Rav Pinchas Lieberman, retranslator of Ibn Tibon’s Hebrew work with footnotes

4.       Rav Asher Zelig Rubenstein, commentator

1: Rabbeinu Bachya

Rabbeinu Bachya ben Yosef ibn Pekuda was a Jewish rabbi and philosopher who lived in Zaragoza, Spain around the year 1000 CE. He served as a dayan and was very influential in promoting Torah ethics and the service of Hashem. In about 1040, he printed a sefer in Arabic entitled "Al Hidaya ila Faraid al-Qulub" or Guide to the Duties of the Heart. He chose to write in the vernacular because that was the common language of his Spanish brethren. He was a master linguist as attested to by Ibn Tibon and by his original writing that is still extant. Rabbeinu Bachya states in his introduction that he felt the need to write about a topic that lacked a central volume in Jewish literature. He wanted to clearly express the ethical system of Judaism in one place. "Many people focus on ‘chovos ha’eivarim — duties of the limbs,’ the outward fulfillment of the mitzvos. However, the Torah requires one to develop and fulfill ‘chovos ha’lev — duties of the heart’ as well."

Rabbeinu Bachya was reluctant to write for numerous reasons. This hesitation applied to our project as well and Rabbeinu Bachya’s remarks helped inspire the present author to bring this work to fruition. In his introduction, Rabbeinu Bachya writes that at first he asked himself if he was worthy or capable of writing Chovos HaLevavos. Then he reminded himself that: one must be careful not to be overly careful. If every author were to delay his writing until he was a worthy expert, we would have nothing in print. And so I made up my mind to write.

Rav Lieberman (introduction to Lev Tov) notes that this line is what encouraged him to write his revised translation as well. As a talmid of Rav Asher, the present author wondered if he could do justice in writing over Rebbe’s vaadim on Shaar HaBitachon. This passage once again pushed the project forward. The author hopes that many will benefit from Rebbe’s inspiring words and the world will be filled with bitachon in Hashem.

Rav Eliyahu Lopian (1876–1970) used to say in the name of Rav Yisrael Salanter (1810–1883) that Chovos HaLevavos, Shaar HaBitachon is the Shulchan Aruch for hilchos bitachon (see Matnas Chelko, Shaar HaBitachon, Pesach HaSefer by Rav Mattisyahu Solomon, p. 2). The point here is twofold. One, Shaar HaBitachon is a most important and authoritative work on bitachon. Two, it is not a book of mussar and ethics; rather, it is halachah. We are obligated to learn and master its content and to live a life with bitachon (see Essay 18 for more on this and see above in Preface [Important Note] about having a rebbe to help you personalize the lessons found here).

2: Rabbi Yehuda ibn Tibon

In about 1161, Rabbi Yehuda ibn Tibon (1120–1190) translated the original Arabic Chovos HaLevavos into Hebrew. He was a noted physician and translator. Benjamin of Todelo mentions Ibn Tibon as a physician in France in 1160. Born in Spain, and thus fluent in Arabic, Ibn Tibon fled persecution by moving to Lunel, France.  There he felt obligated to use his knowledge of Muslim Arabic to help his French brethren.

Rabbeinu Meshulam HaGadol (rebbe of the Raavad and Baal HaMeor) and his sons requested that Ibn Tibon translate Chovos HaLevavos into Hebrew as they wished to study the work. He soon produced a translation of the first shaar (each section of Chovos HaLevavos is called a shaar — gateway [to the subject that it teaches]) and slowly finished the remainder over the course of a few years. Rabbi Yosef Kimchi also wrote a Hebrew translation but only Shaar HaTeshuvah is extant.

In Ibn Tibon’s second introduction he notes that although Rabbi Yosef Kimchi completed the task of translating the entire work (after Ibn Tibon completed the first sha’ar, Rabbi Kimchi took it upon himself to complete the rest), he was commanded by Raavad to complete the remainder himself using his unique translation style. Ibn Tibon went on to translate Ibn Gabirol’s works, Yehuda HaLevi’s Kuzari (1167), Ibn Janach’s grammatical Sefer HaRikmah (1171), Sefer HaShoroshim (1171) and Rav Saadia Gaon’s Emunos V’Dayos (1186).

Ibn Tibon’s fascinating ethical will tells of his commitment to ideals of the soul and of his relationship with and advice to his son, Shmuel. He recommends the study and practice of writing Arabic as this knowledge helped Shmuel Ha’nagid rise in rank and allowed him to help his fellow Jews. He commands his son to study Torah diligently and to master the sciences, including medicine. He advises him that he should eat properly and take care of his health, for if a doctor is not healthy himself, patients will not trust him. Rabbi Yehuda ibn Tibon writes excitedly about his greatest treasure and companion, his library, which he is leaving for his son to use and care for.

One note to bear in mind is that Ibn Tibon himself admits he was not the greatest linguist and has been criticized by scholars as slightly mistranslating certain phrases and inventing his own words at times.

3: Rav Pinchas Yehuda Lieberman

Rav Pinchas Lieberman, a descendant of the Chasam Sofer, was born in Pressburg in 1929, and emigrated with his family to Eretz Yisrael in 1940. In 1969, he authored the esteemed Lev Tov translation of Chovos HaLevavos in an effort to simplify and explain Ibn Tibon’s complex interpretation. His work has been credited with opening up the study of Chovos HaLevavos to many who found Ibn Tibon’s work a closed book. His research included consulting many commentaries written on Ibn Tibon’s translation, but he notes that he did not utilize the original Arabic of Rabbeinu Bachya. He later published Tuv Yerushalayim on Ramban on Chumash, after twenty-five years of research. He passed away the night after Purim in 2005.

4: Rav Asher Zelig Rubenstein

Rav Asher Zelig ben Yirmiyahu HaKohen Rubenstein was born on Tuesday 12 Elul 5702/August 25, 1942. He grew up in Modern Orthodox Far Rockaway, New York and dedicated his life to seek truth, constantly pushing himself to higher levels of avodas Hashem. He learned in Telshe Yeshiva in Cleveland under Rav Mordechai Gifter, Rav Mordechai Katz, and Rav Chaim Stein, forging a lifelong commitment to Torah Yiddishkeit.

At seventeen, he heard a drashah from the Ponovezher Rav, Rav Yosef Shlomo Kahaneman (1886–1969), who was in America at the time. Young Asher was deeply moved and told the rav that he wished to learn in Ponovezh. Rav Kahaneman informed him that his yeshiva was not for Americans but offered to find him an alternate yeshiva. Rav Asher, however, had made up his mind and he knew that Rav Kahaneman’s yeshiva was where he could thrive.

When young Asher arrived in Bnei Brak in Elul 5719/1959, he went straight to Ponovezh to learn. This was where he wanted to be and he fought to make it happen. He was accepted. While in Ponovezh he overcame many adjustment challenges and became known as a great masmid, lamdan and baal mussar. He heard shiurim from Rav Elazar Menachem Shach, Rav Shmuel Rozovsky, and Rav Dovid Povarsky. He also formed a deep lifelong connection with the mashgiach, Rav Chatzkal Levenstein (1895–1974). Rav Asher often spoke about how fortunate he was to hear five shmuessen per week from Rav Chatzkal for five years (3 sichos and 2 vaadim)! Rav Chatzkal’s lessons in emes, emunah, hashgacha, and avodas Hashem were a guiding light for Rav Asher and he later worked to instill these lessons in his talmidim.

After five years, Rav Asher returned to the United States for six months to learn in Yeshivas Mir under Rav Shmuel Brudni and Rav Shmuel Berenbaum. There he began a project to assist weaker students and share with them the emes that he had learned from Rav Chatzkal and his rabbeim. While there, Rav Asher sent a letter to Rav Chatzkal asking a detailed shailah about whether he should go back to Eretz Yisrael. Rav Chatzkal responded by complimenting his abilities and stating that he should indeed return and perhaps you will merit to attain a level in which you will have an influence on students great in Torah, and not just simple learners (Ohr Yechezkel, Michtavim, 377).

Rav Asher then learned in Ponovezh for two-and-a-half additional years before returning to America to learn under Rav Shneur Kotler in Lakewood, New Jersey. While there, he forged a relationship with the mashgiach, Rav Nosson Watchtfogel, who held him in high esteem. Rav Asher even had a seder in Shaar HaBitachon with Rav Nosson which began at midnight during one period (Sefer Mi Yaaleh).

In 5726/1966, at the age of twenty-three and a half, Rav Asher married his lifelong aishes chayil, Sheina Gittel, the daughter of Tzvi Yaakov and Molly Isbee. When the young couple became engaged they decided to move to Eretz Yisrael as soon as possible after the chasunah. There, Rav Asher joined Kollel Torah U’mussar under the leadership of Rav Avraham Yaffen, the son-in-law of the Alter of Novardok, with whom he had a strong bond. Rav Asher also became close to Rav Binyamin Zilber (1906–2008) who delivered divrei mussar at the kollel.

Rav Asher as a Rebbe

When he was twenty-seven years old, Rav Asher was approached by Rav Mordechai Elefant who requested that Rav Asher join his recently opened Yeshivas Itri as maggid shiur and mashgiach. Rav Asher consulted with Rav Chatzkal, who encouraged him to take the position and blessed him that he should succeed. "When you share what you learned at Ponovezh," said Rav Chatzkal, your words should be heard. Rav Asher always attributed his success to this berachah.

In 1981, Rav Asher joined Yeshivas Mishkan HaTorah, which was opened by Rav Berel Eichenstein and Rav Moshe Romm, where he served as a maggid shiur and mashgiach. In 1988, in order to enhance his own personal learning, Rav Asher became Rosh Kollel of Kollel Pri Eitz Chaim in Ashdod, where he gave shiurim and mussar talks. In 1995, he was approached by Rav Shmuel Auerbach,