After completing the Torah on Simchas Torah and as we start a new year we begin reading from Bereishis. The Torah starts with the creation of the world which we all realize was created by G-d, but there is another element of faith which is much harder for people to internalize. Not only did G-d Create the world but He continues to run and direct the world. If this idea was placed in our hearts we would never be angry, jealous or worried, we would realize that Hashem is running the show, end of story.

One of the most prevalent issues that many face is that of putting in effort for our livelihood while balancing trust in G-d that He is the ultimate supporter. How often do we think that our prosperity comes from our hard work, effort, intellect etc. Of course we need to put in the necessary effort to make a livelihood as this is the curse which was given to man after he sinned in the Garden of Eden, but we must realize that the effort is really only a "tax" we must "pay" in order to receive the livelihood which Hashem has already decreed upon us. There is nothing we can do that will bring us more than was decreed, no matter how much we try. If a person is in business for themselves this challenge is clear, but even if you work for someone else there is always a desire to get ahead and get promoted. This results in people trying to best their co-workers and in some cases even making them look bad or speaking disparagingly against them G-d Forbid. If G-d is the real provider is it possible to think that by violating His will a person will be able to gain more money?

There is a story of Reb Aharon Dovid Kaplovitz who owned a store in Petach Tikva some 60 years ago. He worked hard but barely made ends meet. One day someone opened a store right next to him. Most people would have been enraged and worked to try and halt or destroy the newcomers business, not Reb Aharon. Reb Aharon went over to his new neighbor who was a young and unseasoned storekeeper and offered to be of any assistance that he could. He even told the young man " if someone comes into your store and asks you for a product that you don't have don't tell them you don't have it. Instead, tell them you will need to check your supply closet and then come to my store next door and get the product from me to sell them. I don't want you to lose customers."  The young man was flabbergasted and thanked Reb Aharon, who continued working his own story without any lose of income." (From A life of Bitachon)

Although this story seems to be a very high level of trust in G-d it is something we can all strive for in our dealings.

We need to make our effort to become a receptacle of Hashem's bounty and this requires us to put in a certain amount of effort, but beyond that we are paying "extra taxes" and won't see any additional returns. 

Shabbat Shalom,

Heath