Background
Sha'ar Habitachon is the 5th chapter of this sefer
Chovos Halevavos
Name one of Prerequisite that the author assumes we have before we start learning Sha'ar HaBitachon
Believe there is a G-d
Believe in HP
Believe that G-d cares for us
Believe that G-d is compassionate
Have an understanding that we must serve G-d
What are the four worlds, name them in order
Atzilus, Briyah, Yetzira, Asiya
Give us one Pasuk from the Torah that shows us we have a commandment to do Hishtadlus
וּבֵֽרַכְךָ֙ יְהוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֶ֔יךָ בְּכֹ֖ל אֲשֶׁ֥ר תַּעֲשֶֽׂה׃
שֵׁ֤֣שֶׁת יָמִ֣ים֙ תַּֽעֲבֹ֔ד֮ וְעָשִׂ֖֣יתָ כָּל־מְלַאכְתֶּֽךָ֒ וְי֙וֹם֙ הַשְּׁבִיעִ֔֜י שַׁבָּ֖֣ת ׀ לַיהוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֶ֑֗יךָ
According to R' Bachya, what is the first condition that enables us to trust in Hashem?
Hashem is kind, compassionate and merciful
There are how many gates in the entire sefer?
10
Where does a Jew get his Emunah from?
Every jew has a soul and has faith in it we just have to dig deep to uncover that faith
How do we know that everything starts out as complete goodness from Hashem?
Because Hashem is pure goodness and therefore everything He does has to be for the good. Kol Ma D'Avid Rachmana ltav avid
How does having Bitachon affect your relationship with Hishtadlus?
It keeps you more calm and centered, you don't feel like the weight of your success is all on your shoulders. You feel more energized and excited and not overcome with stress and anxiety.
What are the two parts to the second condition?
Hashem is attentive/interested in you and proactive in fulfilling your needs.
Give 3 examples of Chovos HaEivarim
Giving tzedaka, lighting Shabbos candles, saying Brachos
What are the two words found in Bitachon and what do they mean?
Betach- certain
Tach- Plaster
Describe the journey that Hashem's blessings go through as it comes through the pipeline down to our world?
The smaller blessings have less resistance at each stage of tzimtzum and therefore reach us as revealed goodness. While the greater blessings are too intense for the limited revelation of each world and get repackaged in the concealments of each world and end up in our life as something seemingly negative.
Using a pasuk, what is the proper response to this phrase אָמַרְתָּ֖ בִּלְבָבֶ֑ךָ כֹּחִי֙ וְעֹ֣צֶם יָדִ֔י עָ֥שָׂה לִ֖י אֶת־הַחַ֥יִל הַזֶּֽה
וְזָֽכַרְתָּ֙ אֶת־יְהוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֶ֔יךָ כִּ֣י ה֗וּא הַנֹּתֵ֥ן לְךָ֛ כֹּ֖חַ לַעֲשׂ֣וֹת חָ֑יִל
What is the deeper meaning of "Hashem is all knowing" in condition number 4?
Hashem knows what is truly best for a person and will ensure that all outcomes are good
Fear Hashem, Love Hashem
What comes first Bitachon or Emunah? and Why? (think tree and fruit)
Emunah is the tree and Bitachon is the fruit- not every tree has fruit but every fruit has come from a tree.
What is the purpose that Hashem's goodness is repackaged on its way down to us? Why is this necessary?
Because we are meant to reveal Hashem within the concealment and when we see Hashem in the seemingly negative experiences in our lives, we create a Dira B'Tachtonim
How do we find out what Hishtadlus we are meant to be involved in throughout our lives? i.e. our corner of this world to elevate
By paying attention to the specific talents, interests and desires Hashem gives to each one of us this will guide us towards our unique hishtadlus we are meant to perform in this world.
Recite an affirmation for the 6th condition
I feel safe because my wellbeing is in Hashem hands
Rabeinu Bachya wrote the sefer for this reason
He felt there was a void in the teachings of our mental, emotional obligations as Jews. While many people paid more attention to Jewish Law which is mainly concerned with Chovos HaEivarim.
Describe the difference between having faith vs having trust
faith is believing Hashem can provide, trust is believing Hashem will provide and that the good that we desire will reach us in a revealed good way
How does having Bitachon trigger Hashem's goodness to be revealed to us in our world?
We see the original source of every cause and know that it comes from Hashem and He is pure goodness so it is no longer necessary to conceal His goodness. We accomplished what the concealment was meant to teach us before the concealment occurred.
Why does Hashem want us involved in Hishtadlus? Why doesn't Hashem perform miracles for us?
Hashem wants us to act in a natural way by being involved in the physicality in this world and still attribute all of the causes to Hashem, this breaks through the veil of nature and creates a Dira Btachtonim
Which condition shows us that we can trust in Hashem's kindness regardless of our worthiness?
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