The Bitachon Club at Valley Torah is a great opportunity for students to increase their bitachon—strong trust in Hashem. In order to have bitachon, one must not only believe in Hashem (emunah), but also trust in Him. A metaphor we learned was that emunah is like a tree, and the fruits of the tree are bitachon. To have good fruits, the tree itself must be good; the same applies to having strong emunah, which results in greater bitachon. During the Bitachon Club, Rabbi Segal and his students meet every Wednesday during breakfast to discuss the importance of bitachon and how it can alter one’s perception of the world.

One of the lessons discussed is how Hashem provides everything in our lives. From the air we breathe to the food on our plate and even our ability to see—all is given to us by Hashem. Our bodies and our very capacity to live are provided by Him. But why? Why is it necessary that we see or taste or hear? Ultimately, Hashem wants us to enjoy our lives and everything within them. This can only be achieved through what Hashem chooses to provide us. We have eyes to witness His creations, a mouth to speak His language, and ears to hear His Torah. Hashem gives us these gifts not only so we can enjoy His world but also because they are essential for fulfilling our purpose in this world: to connect intimately with him, preparing us for Olam Haba (the afterlife).

Still, Hashem wants us to recognize that He is the source of all blessings and that He will provide when necessary. If someone lacks something, it is because Hashem does not want that person to have it—at least not yet. For example, imagine you need $500 for rent but you don’t currently have that money. Having bitachon means trusting that Hashem will provide what you need; conversely, if Hashem does not provide the money, then it must mean that you do not need it at this time. It is important to understand that Hashem provides when He sees that we are truly in need, but when He does not deem it necessary, He will withhold it. In other words, Hashem knows what is best for us and what is not. Although we may not always recognize it, we cannot judge Hashem’s plan, because everything He does is for a reason. Strengthening our bitachon deepens our trust and belief in Hashem, making it easier to follow His plan without question.

Editor’s Note: It should be duly noted that although this worldview is mutually exclusive to others, it does not make any truth claims or present an argument, only a description of one side of the religious spectrum. Also, there were at least a dozen philosophical and theological queries that could have been posed from this article, but due to the nature of its composition, prioritizing conciseness, they were omitted.