True Bitachon vs. The Government

Those in kollel are used to hearing the speech how those who rely on Hashem and devote themselves exclusively to Torah will have all their needs provided for without any need for hishtadlus or to go work. More often than not, the words of the Rambam at the end of Shmitta V’Yovel are used to drive home this point, how not only Shevet Levi but anyone who devotes themselves….

Relying on Hashem exclusively to provide for your needs is fine, but the sad truth is that not many are capable of doing so. That means not worrying at all on where the next meal will come from, and training not only yourself but your wife and children to think along those lines.

Many are under the allusion that they have true bitachon, but sadly they do not. The gemara says that one who relies on the baker for his next meal is not a true ba’al bitachon. Surely, someone who relies on government programs to cover a part of their budget are not living exclusively on the Ribbono Shel Olam.

As we have seen recently, the government is no friend of Torah. In the U.S., the recent Rubashkin trial has shown how even a rural Iowa judge can harbor such hatred towards frum yidden by putting Sholom Rubashkin in jail for an even longer term than requested by the prosecution. In Israel, the Emanual case shows clearly how when you take government funding for anything, you have to put up with the Israeli government calling the shots, and everyone knows they are no friends of Torah.

We have become somewhat comfortable these past 20 years of getting by in kollel with the government as our savior. I think that those times are coming to an end. Government deficits are at all time highs, and the trend in politics it to vote in candidates who promote less government and less spending. Even where programs will not be cut, the scrutiny of the applicants’ eligibility will be greatly increased, and the punishment for falsifying one’s status will become harsh enough to think twice about applying.

It’s time to stop placing our faith in the U.S. government for help. Instead, let us look to the back of the dollar where it says “In G-d we Trust.”

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Filed Under: Kollel Finances

Tags: dolllar • emanual • government • rubashkin • uncle sam