Opinion & Comment
Bitochon

Parshas Vayeishev tells us of the sale of Yosef Hatzaddik into Egyptian slavery.

After throwing Yosef into a dangerous pit, his brothers notice a band of Arab merchants passing by. Yehuda convinces the others to take Yosef out of the pit and sell him as a slave to the Arabs. When describing these merchants, the Torah goes out of its way to inform us that they are carrying sweet-smelling spices, a particularly uncharacteristic load for Arab tradesmen.

Chazal comment that this oddity was not a coincidence. It was Divinely arranged. Hashem had seen to it that the band of Arabs with whom Yosef was to travel would be carrying sweet- smelling goods, in order to drown out the stench of the merchants. In this way, Yosef Hatzaddik would be spared the unpleasant smell of the malodorous Arabs.

At first glance this seems to be a very peculiar, and somewhat trivial, point. Yosef is being sent away from his family and his home. As far as he knows, he will never see his father again. Being sold as a slave to a bunch of Arabs, there's no telling where he will end up or how long he will remain alive. In the midst of this horrific incident, is Yosef meant to take a deep breath and say, "Hmm, at least I don't have to smell these Arabs?" Is this supposed to be a source of comfort and solace for him? What is the significance of this gesture?

Perhaps we can better appreciate these words of Chazal by understanding one of the outstanding characteristics of Yosef Hatzaddik. The Midrash tells us that Yosef epitomized the middoh of bitochon (trust and reliance on Hashem). "Ashrei Hagever asher som baHashem mivtacho" (Tehillim 40) -- "zeh Yosef." (Midrash)

The Vilna Gaon writes that the middoh - of bitochon is the foundation of the entire Torah. (Commentary to Mishlei 22, 19) This may be shocking for us to hear. After all, isn't bitochon something which one employs in times of distress?

The Torah is an all-encompassing guide to life. How can the sum total of all of its laws and teachings be one particular middoh, especially one that seemingly is not a part of day-to-day life?

The answer to this puzzling question lies in a posuk in Mishlei. In the fifth verse of the third chapter, Shlomo Hamelech addresses the middoh of bitochon. He writes, "Trust in Hashem with all your heart!" This means that one's trust in Hashem should be so pure and full- hearted that he has absolutely no feelings of doubt or insecurity.

But this is not enough. There is yet another ingredient to bitochon, as the following verse states, "Know Him in all your ways." What does this mean? What can possibly be added to trusting Hashem with all of your heart?

Rabbeinu Yonah explains that in this verse lies an important insight into the middoh of bitochon. There are many people who rely on Hashem in matters that are completely out of man's control. When it comes to situations of great difficulty or danger, they "trust in Hashem with all their hearts."

When the situation is clearly not in their hands, then they look to the Heavens for support. In their daily endeavors, however, these people feel quite sure of themselves. They consider the day-to-day challenges of life within their grasp. Feeling that they can handle these issues on their own, they don't turn to Hashem for help.

These people, Shlomo Hamelech says, are making a mistake. Bitochon means living with complete dependence on Hashem. It means realizing that there is nothing that one can accomplish on his own and there is no situation that doesn't require siyata deShmaya. "Know Him in all your ways." As Rabbenu Yonah reveals, bitochon means living with the realization that not only is there no problem too great for Hashem to solve, but there is also nothing too small or trivial with which to concern Him.

The botei'ach understands Hashem's involvement in our world and in our personal lives as a constant reality. Our most mundane and trivial needs concern Him, and we can -- and should -- rely on His helping hand. Living with this outlook literally brings the Ribono Shel Olom into one's life. The botei'ach turns to Hashem for every little thing, with words of prayer or a simple call for help. He never feels alone or helpless. He has a real relationship with his Creator.

This is what it means to, "Know Him in all your ways." Like all relationships, bitochon is a two way street. As the posuk continues, "Know him in all your ways -- and He will straighten the path before you." The botei'ach places his life in the hands of Hashem, and Hashem reciprocates with a closeness that envelopes him with constant Companionship and Divine protection.

Even the natural circumstances of the world can cause the botei'ach no harm. "A thousand will fall from your [left] side and ten thousand from your right, but [their tragedy] will not approach you." (Tehillim 91) He is with Hashem and Hashem is with him.

Attaining this bond between man and Hashem is the ultimate goal of every Jew. Indeed, bitochon is the foundation of the entire Torah. "What is the one phrase on which the entire Torah hinges? `Know Him in all of your ways.'" (Brochos 63a)

Rabbenu Yonah's portrayal of the middoh of bitochon is flawlessly personified by Yosef Hatzaddik. Isolated from his father and family, Yosef turns to Hashem for his every need. His complete and constant reliance on Hashem carries him through many trials and tribulations and forges a special closeness between himself and the Ribono Shel Olom. "And Hashem was with Yosef" (39, 21) -- "more than any of his brothers." (Midrash) Wherever Yosef goes, the Shechina (Divine Presence) accompanies him (Midrash), protecting him even from natural circumstances.

When thrown into a pit full of deadly snakes and scorpions, Yosef remains unharmed. Yosef eventually ends up in the house of Potifar, Pharaoh's chief butcher. Potifar is so impressed by Yosef that he entrusts him with all of his belongings, putting Yosef in charge of his entire estate. Why is Potifar so taken by Yosef?

"And [Yosef's] master saw that Hashem was with him and that in all of his endeavors Hashem gave him success."(39,3) The name of Hashem is constantly on the tip of Yosef's tongue. Whenever Yosef is summoned by Potifar, he utters a prayer. "Hashem," he says, "I am relying only on you. Please may I find favor in the eyes of my master." (Tanchumo)

And Hashem responds to his prayers, helping Yosef fulfill Potifar's every command, often in a miraculous fashion. When Yosef pours a drink of wine for Potifar and Potifar decides that he wants water, the wine becomes water. If he asks again for wine, it's wine. Potifar observes Yosef's constant dialogue with Hashem, and how Hashem's miraculous assistance is common to Yosef. He realizes that Yosef will find success in all of his endeavors because "Hashem is with him."

With this insight into the greatness of Yosef Hatzaddik, perhaps we can understand the sweet spices carried by the Arab merchants in a different light. Being sold into slavery meant that Yosef was headed into exile. He was leaving Eretz Yisroel and his father's house, never to return again. He was all alone and his fate was unknown.

In his moment of crisis, Hashem sent Yosef a most wonderful message. "Don't think that you're going to Mitzrayim alone," Hashem was saying. "Wherever you go, I will be with you." Yosef's sweet-smelling entourage was not only meant to spare him an unpleasant smell. It was in honor of the Divine Presence that accompanied him.

When Yosef joined the band of merchants, he was not riding alone. He was surrounded by Hashem's Presence. This was truly a comforting message for Yosef, one that could give him the strength and guidance to triumph in his Egyptian exile. Yosef Hatzaddik teaches us that bitochon is more than just something that we pull out of our pocket in times of need. It is a way of life, a constant connection to the Ribono Shel Olom.

Bitochon brings Hashem into our lives. This may seem like a lofty goal, or something that is way beyond our reach. But in truth, it is something that every Jew possesses and practices daily. Every mitzvah, and certainly every tefilloh, is an expression of bitochon. Whenever we turn to Hashem, we are expressing our faith in Him and our awareness that He is involved in our lives.

Nevertheless, we don't have to rely solely on the given framework of Torah and mitzvos to build and strengthen our sense of bitochon. There are other very powerful tools at our disposal that can heighten our awareness of, and reliance on, the Ribono Shel Olom.

One example is talking to Hashem. By communicating our needs and desires directly to Hashem, we can instill in ourselves a deep awareness of His presence and His involvement in our lives. So many situations arise in our daily lives when we need help. Whether it's finding the keys or dealing with a screaming baby, getting to an appointment or dealing with stress, life is a constant series of challenges. These challenges are all opportunities for bitochon.

The next time you're in a situation where you feel like screaming your head off: stop, open your mouth and let out a quiet whisper, "Help!" Remind yourself that you're not alone. This can be an intimate moment when you are with Hashem. And - - Hashem will be with you.

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Perhaps there is also a message in the sweet spices for our times. We can understand Yosef's being enveloped in a sweet smell as a sign that even in the foul golus of Egypt, surrounded by a decadent and immoral society, Yosef would not be influenced or overcome by the people around him. His complete reliance on Hashem would serve as a "bubble" of holiness, in which he would be immune to the powerful influences of Mitzrayim.

"Yipol mitzidecho eleph -- eilech lo yigash." It was in this spiritual greenhouse that Yosef raised his two sons, Ephraim and Menasheh, who remained so pure that Yaakov Ovinu gave them the status of Shevotim. Perhaps this is why there is a custom in Klal Yisroel to bless our children that they should be like Ephraim and Menasheh. We hope that our children, in spite of the influences of the golus, will grow up with the purity of the sons of Yaakov Ovinu. How can we emulate Yosef Hatzaddik in creating an environment of bitochon in our homes?

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