There are plenty of mitzvoth I do not observe (mostly because I am lazy or find them too difficult in my present physical circumstances) but there is one Jewish practice I embrace constantly: that of “bitachon” (trust in G-d). Stronger than faith, fear or even love of G-d, it is the knowledge – deep in my heart and soul – that no matter what circumstances I find myself in, I am connected to G-d and that He is taking care of me.
I won’t enumerate the everyday miracles I have experienced because of this. Maybe one day I will relate some of them in a book. Bitachon doesn’t make me a do-nothing; someone who sits back and waits for G-d to do the work for me. Quite the opposite. I’m a do-er; always have been. I forge ahead with everyday tasks and challenges. But I don’t worry about what the outcome will be. Because the beauty of “bitachon” is that it acknowledges G-d’s control of the world. That anything is possible if He wills it.
I suspect it is Israel’s national sense of “bitachon” that keeps her people optimistic and trucking along; performing military and other miracles that cause other countries to respect, fear and hate us. But one day, some of them might get smart and try to learn our secret. Bitachon.
Susan, I am an agnostic and truly happy for you that you find solace in God. I think it is wonderful that you don't let your belief make you complacent. That you are a doer. It reminds me of a saying that i want to share with you.
You can pray all you want but eventually David had to pick up a stone and throw it at Goliath.
Of course you have to take action. I hope I made that clear in my post. And bitachon is not "solace". It's feeling a connection with some infinite energy we call G-d. Beyond that, I can't explain it. Try looking it up on chabad.org.
Oh goodness Joshua, this one is just too sweet and optimistic ..... not healthy for a cynical miserable old man to read first thing in the morning. If I would have known I would have waited until after the third pot of coffee and the gym workout.
Yes, always good to be positive but one also has to be realistic and certainly one has to be non-complacent. With the exception of the State of Israel, your wonderful essay could have been written in Germany in the early 1930's and it would have held up admirably. A great time for German Jews and for many Jews in Europe. How long did it take for that scenario to change dramatically? 3-5 years? The signs were there but we didn't listen, did we? hitler was a joke, it would never happen in Germany and we know the end of that story.
Like you, I am a duo citizen .... the US and Canada. I spent my childhood dealing with antisemitism. Parents were deaf and poor and we grew up among Black and Puerto Ricans in the "projects". We were one of very few families that were white so fights were often enough and dangerous going out at night. Even with that, The US was the greatest place on earth. I was extremely patriotic to both the US and Canada because of their ideals and freedoms and opportunity.
Well Oct 7th changed that for me. The antisemitism I see now is the worst that i have seen in my lifetime and believe me, that is saying a lot. It is not coming from the slums, it is coming for people that I thought it would never come from.
Doing the rant again so just gonna make my point. Worry sucks and does nothing and always best to be optimistic but make sure that you mix that optimism with realism and caution. We must not sit back and be complacent, we must take action, we must fight as hard as we can cuz things happen very quickly. If you have a Bubbie or Zadeh, go ask them how quickly things happen. The world was not fine at all.
God gave us the Bible as a record of His dealings with His people and an assurance that He remains faithful to all who put their trust in Him - and sometimes even when we waver! He will bring Israel through this and hopefully closer to Him.
The world will continue no issue with that, the sun will come up and the season will change, the question is whether it will be a hospitable place for our children. I don't know where you think it is better for Jews outside the US or Israel. Where should we go? Sure we can adapt. We have done so for millenia, but if we lose the US or Israel, what kind of world would our descendents be living in?
Excellent article. Having been on this planet fore 100 years , I can vouch for the truth of human stupidity and also adaptability. I have written many articles on this but you have written excellently. Kol hakoved!
Thank you Joshua for your positive thoughts today. They have helped to remove the uneasy feelings I have had since October 7th 2023. I feel like dancing again and smiling! You and Peggy Noonan have made me believe we will be fine.
Thanks for the reminder of this! The world is only as terrible as we allow it to be, and most people saying that actually lead pretty cushy lives in the grand scheme of things. I remember when Trump won in 2016, many considered it a “trauma.” But the sun rose the next day and we all survived.
You are so right and not only did we survive Trump but our people and Israel thrived under him. We should all keep that very much in mind. all the best papa j
It was only in adulthood that I learned that Jews are supposed to be happy and not constantly endure tsurris. I wonder if that was an American invention.
Meanwhile, this piece was a wonderful reminder. Thank you.
It's no wonder that Israelis are the 5th happiest people in the world.
A wonderful, optimistic and realistic reminder about keeping things in perspective, Joshua. When you wrote about catastrophizers, I thought about the meteorologists that I listened to when I lived in the Northeast and now in the Southeast, and they all did the same, reported on the gloom and doom of hurricanes, flooding, blizzards, etc. The news media does the same. They report on the worst events they can find and expand them to get the viewer's attention. For both of these things, it's about ratings and money, so now I listen, weigh what I think is valuable, while I dismiss most of it as time fillers. You are correct in that so many of these things we hear about have occurred throughout history and will continue to do so. It's all about survival and how we strategize and navigate our lives. Thanks again for making my day brighter.
Ok Josh, I’m flummoxed. Your essays are absolutely outstanding and brilliant! Yet you repeated at least twice: “No doubt, there are new and extraordinary dangers that we face today, such as another world war, climate crises,”. Climate crises? Just what might those be? I hope you haven’t been brainwashed into believing that there is such a thing as anthropogenic global warming and that a single parameter, CO2 is responsible. I also don’t believe that you believe that mankind can control the temperature of the earth. So what’s the story behind your fear of the climate?
Basing it on current imperfection yet realistic improvements
Is encouraging.
When you mentioned “we are part of a greater human framework which has made unbelievable progress, even if getting there has not always been pretty”,
this is a very good inclusive perspective,
Indicative of many peoples’ or people’s contributions to
the world’s current enjoyments.
You mentioned, “I noticed that people in general have a habit of paying attention to the minority of what is wrong while ignoring the majority of what is right. We do not fully comprehend how much goes right every day, even when much could easily go wrong.”
This is countered by many successful people who change this habit
by cultivating an attitude of gratitude.
Your observation stated in the paragraph as follows:
“Everything we are experiencing now — hot wars, climate crises, pandemics, economic instability, and sociopolitical chaos — has occurred time and again across hundreds of thousands of years. And yet, here we are, still here, still doing a pretty darn good job of keeping our planet spinning.”—is or seems to be good.
Although you may have meant the last four words rhetorically,
what appears to be a dependency on ourselves for the successes we enjoy,
may be a mistake. Yes, Israel the Country is a positive cooperative influencer today in our world.
It is my understanding, based on years of personal research and study,
that there is a higher power upon which the successes of our cooperative existence and the continued “spinning of our planet” depend without doubt.
Adding to Jerry Kleiner's somewhat skeptical approach:
"our self-declared enemies . . . vow to wipe us off the map as a core pillar of their doctrine."
To clarify, the source of this doctrine are relevant passages in the Koran and Hadiths. Not even the New Testament nor its spokesperson on earth, the RC Church ever called for the extermination of the Jews. Now compare the Biden, and potentially the Harris position ifshe is elected: "The Secretary underscored the need to capitalize on Israel’s successful action to bring Yahya Sinwar to justice by securing the release of all hostages and ending the conflict in Gaza in a way that provides lasting security for Israelis and Palestinians alike. He discussed the importance of charting a new path forward in the post-conflict period that allows Palestinians to rebuild their lives and provides governance, security, and reconstruction for Gaza." (excerpt from the US Embassy and consulates in Italy (https://it.usembassy.gov/secretary-blinkens-meeting-with-israeli-prime-minister-netanyahu)
In a word, Israel is expected to negotiate with Hamas as an equal partner in any ensuing reconstruction of the Strip, meaning that Hamas is to stay in place as the governing body, regardless of its real political and military goals clearly articulated in its charter and in its actions. If that comes to pass, we can expect further Oct. 7ths, if not worse.
Hit me once, shame on you. Hit me twice, shame on me.
There are plenty of mitzvoth I do not observe (mostly because I am lazy or find them too difficult in my present physical circumstances) but there is one Jewish practice I embrace constantly: that of “bitachon” (trust in G-d). Stronger than faith, fear or even love of G-d, it is the knowledge – deep in my heart and soul – that no matter what circumstances I find myself in, I am connected to G-d and that He is taking care of me.
I won’t enumerate the everyday miracles I have experienced because of this. Maybe one day I will relate some of them in a book. Bitachon doesn’t make me a do-nothing; someone who sits back and waits for G-d to do the work for me. Quite the opposite. I’m a do-er; always have been. I forge ahead with everyday tasks and challenges. But I don’t worry about what the outcome will be. Because the beauty of “bitachon” is that it acknowledges G-d’s control of the world. That anything is possible if He wills it.
I suspect it is Israel’s national sense of “bitachon” that keeps her people optimistic and trucking along; performing military and other miracles that cause other countries to respect, fear and hate us. But one day, some of them might get smart and try to learn our secret. Bitachon.
Susan, I am an agnostic and truly happy for you that you find solace in God. I think it is wonderful that you don't let your belief make you complacent. That you are a doer. It reminds me of a saying that i want to share with you.
You can pray all you want but eventually David had to pick up a stone and throw it at Goliath.
The best always, papa j
Of course you have to take action. I hope I made that clear in my post. And bitachon is not "solace". It's feeling a connection with some infinite energy we call G-d. Beyond that, I can't explain it. Try looking it up on chabad.org.
Oh goodness Joshua, this one is just too sweet and optimistic ..... not healthy for a cynical miserable old man to read first thing in the morning. If I would have known I would have waited until after the third pot of coffee and the gym workout.
Yes, always good to be positive but one also has to be realistic and certainly one has to be non-complacent. With the exception of the State of Israel, your wonderful essay could have been written in Germany in the early 1930's and it would have held up admirably. A great time for German Jews and for many Jews in Europe. How long did it take for that scenario to change dramatically? 3-5 years? The signs were there but we didn't listen, did we? hitler was a joke, it would never happen in Germany and we know the end of that story.
Like you, I am a duo citizen .... the US and Canada. I spent my childhood dealing with antisemitism. Parents were deaf and poor and we grew up among Black and Puerto Ricans in the "projects". We were one of very few families that were white so fights were often enough and dangerous going out at night. Even with that, The US was the greatest place on earth. I was extremely patriotic to both the US and Canada because of their ideals and freedoms and opportunity.
Well Oct 7th changed that for me. The antisemitism I see now is the worst that i have seen in my lifetime and believe me, that is saying a lot. It is not coming from the slums, it is coming for people that I thought it would never come from.
Doing the rant again so just gonna make my point. Worry sucks and does nothing and always best to be optimistic but make sure that you mix that optimism with realism and caution. We must not sit back and be complacent, we must take action, we must fight as hard as we can cuz things happen very quickly. If you have a Bubbie or Zadeh, go ask them how quickly things happen. The world was not fine at all.
all the best Joshua, papa j
God gave us the Bible as a record of His dealings with His people and an assurance that He remains faithful to all who put their trust in Him - and sometimes even when we waver! He will bring Israel through this and hopefully closer to Him.
I hope you are right Josh.
Joshua Hoffman you are the BEST! What a beautiful editorial. And absolutely right-on! Thank you!
The world will continue no issue with that, the sun will come up and the season will change, the question is whether it will be a hospitable place for our children. I don't know where you think it is better for Jews outside the US or Israel. Where should we go? Sure we can adapt. We have done so for millenia, but if we lose the US or Israel, what kind of world would our descendents be living in?
Excellent article. Having been on this planet fore 100 years , I can vouch for the truth of human stupidity and also adaptability. I have written many articles on this but you have written excellently. Kol hakoved!
Thank you Joshua for your positive thoughts today. They have helped to remove the uneasy feelings I have had since October 7th 2023. I feel like dancing again and smiling! You and Peggy Noonan have made me believe we will be fine.
Thanks for the reminder of this! The world is only as terrible as we allow it to be, and most people saying that actually lead pretty cushy lives in the grand scheme of things. I remember when Trump won in 2016, many considered it a “trauma.” But the sun rose the next day and we all survived.
You are so right and not only did we survive Trump but our people and Israel thrived under him. We should all keep that very much in mind. all the best papa j
It was only in adulthood that I learned that Jews are supposed to be happy and not constantly endure tsurris. I wonder if that was an American invention.
Meanwhile, this piece was a wonderful reminder. Thank you.
It's no wonder that Israelis are the 5th happiest people in the world.
A wonderful, optimistic and realistic reminder about keeping things in perspective, Joshua. When you wrote about catastrophizers, I thought about the meteorologists that I listened to when I lived in the Northeast and now in the Southeast, and they all did the same, reported on the gloom and doom of hurricanes, flooding, blizzards, etc. The news media does the same. They report on the worst events they can find and expand them to get the viewer's attention. For both of these things, it's about ratings and money, so now I listen, weigh what I think is valuable, while I dismiss most of it as time fillers. You are correct in that so many of these things we hear about have occurred throughout history and will continue to do so. It's all about survival and how we strategize and navigate our lives. Thanks again for making my day brighter.
Ok Josh, I’m flummoxed. Your essays are absolutely outstanding and brilliant! Yet you repeated at least twice: “No doubt, there are new and extraordinary dangers that we face today, such as another world war, climate crises,”. Climate crises? Just what might those be? I hope you haven’t been brainwashed into believing that there is such a thing as anthropogenic global warming and that a single parameter, CO2 is responsible. I also don’t believe that you believe that mankind can control the temperature of the earth. So what’s the story behind your fear of the climate?
I meant natural disasters and such.
👍
2024 Oct 27 12:37 am
Substack—Hoffman article
Comments response
It’s good to be optimistic
Especially if one can substantiate it
With factual evidence.
However, basing optimism
Upon billions of years is unrealistic.
Basing it on current imperfection yet realistic improvements
Is encouraging.
When you mentioned “we are part of a greater human framework which has made unbelievable progress, even if getting there has not always been pretty”,
this is a very good inclusive perspective,
Indicative of many peoples’ or people’s contributions to
the world’s current enjoyments.
You mentioned, “I noticed that people in general have a habit of paying attention to the minority of what is wrong while ignoring the majority of what is right. We do not fully comprehend how much goes right every day, even when much could easily go wrong.”
This is countered by many successful people who change this habit
by cultivating an attitude of gratitude.
Your observation stated in the paragraph as follows:
“Everything we are experiencing now — hot wars, climate crises, pandemics, economic instability, and sociopolitical chaos — has occurred time and again across hundreds of thousands of years. And yet, here we are, still here, still doing a pretty darn good job of keeping our planet spinning.”—is or seems to be good.
Although you may have meant the last four words rhetorically,
what appears to be a dependency on ourselves for the successes we enjoy,
may be a mistake. Yes, Israel the Country is a positive cooperative influencer today in our world.
It is my understanding, based on years of personal research and study,
that there is a higher power upon which the successes of our cooperative existence and the continued “spinning of our planet” depend without doubt.
Adding to Jerry Kleiner's somewhat skeptical approach:
"our self-declared enemies . . . vow to wipe us off the map as a core pillar of their doctrine."
To clarify, the source of this doctrine are relevant passages in the Koran and Hadiths. Not even the New Testament nor its spokesperson on earth, the RC Church ever called for the extermination of the Jews. Now compare the Biden, and potentially the Harris position ifshe is elected: "The Secretary underscored the need to capitalize on Israel’s successful action to bring Yahya Sinwar to justice by securing the release of all hostages and ending the conflict in Gaza in a way that provides lasting security for Israelis and Palestinians alike. He discussed the importance of charting a new path forward in the post-conflict period that allows Palestinians to rebuild their lives and provides governance, security, and reconstruction for Gaza." (excerpt from the US Embassy and consulates in Italy (https://it.usembassy.gov/secretary-blinkens-meeting-with-israeli-prime-minister-netanyahu)
In a word, Israel is expected to negotiate with Hamas as an equal partner in any ensuing reconstruction of the Strip, meaning that Hamas is to stay in place as the governing body, regardless of its real political and military goals clearly articulated in its charter and in its actions. If that comes to pass, we can expect further Oct. 7ths, if not worse.
Hit me once, shame on you. Hit me twice, shame on me.