Reply To: Are You An Apikores?

Avi K:
Suppose Hashem decided that if Reuven will write a decent resume, dress presentably and speak well at the interviews he will get a certain job. If Reuven does not fulfill any of those conditions who “ultimately” lost the job for him?

I think it is important to stress that although we must do our proper hishtadlus (putting aside the almost impossible question of precisely how much hishtadlus is necessary), it is not the hishtadlus itself that gets us the seemingly resultant health/wealth/security/etc; it is nothing but a gift from Hashem.

Moshol, li’mah ha’davar domeh – if I tell my five year old that if he behaves I’ll give him ice cream, while he must keep to his end of the deal to get the ice cream, the ice cream is still a gift from me. His good behavior will not magically make the ice cream appear, and our hishtadlus does not actually create the success that we receive – it is nothing but a gift.

The appearance of a cause-and-effect relationship between our hishtadlus and our success is nothing but an illusion. We just go through the motions, but it is Hashem Who decides what we actually get.

I’ve seen it quoted from the Chazon Ish that what we view as teva is nothing but ???? ?’ ????? ????? – how Hashem happens to usually run his world. It is not a “rule” that the sun must rise every day or that objects must always fall to the ground anymore than it is a “rule” that I get up at 7:30 every day – both are nothing other than a routine, and can be changed on a whim.

(The impetus for this thread was actually an excellent piece that R’ Dessler has on this subject, which I am trying to relocate so I can quote it here. Any leads would be appreciated)