I heard that the Rebbe once said, “If one did not have trust in God and wait for His salvation, one would have to become a traveler and a wanderer, just like many people do for their livelihood.”
The Rebbe was speaking of those who must support a family. In most cases, they do not have an adequate livelihood. They often lack clothing and other necessities.
We must wait for God’s help and not press the hour (Eruvin 13b). Do not try to take care of all your needs at once, but wait until God shows His mercy.
The Rebbe said about himself, “If I did not have patience when I needed something, if I would have pressed the hour and demanded it immediately, I would have had to borrow money and become a debtor. I would then be forced to wander and travel, trying to earn money. I would be just like the many others who are forced to go from place to place because of this.”
Realize this and live accordingly. Every man has much that he lacks, including householders and even the rich. This is tru too of those who are supported by others. It is best to be satisfied with a minimum and run your household with what you have at the time.
It may appear to you that your wife and children need clothing, for example (see “His Wisdom” #100). They may need it very badly, but still, do not force the hour and go into debt.. Wait until the right time comes and you can pay for your needs.
In all such matters, you must wait for the proper time. It is written, “The eyes of all look to You, and You give them their food in its time” (Psalms 145:15).
שָׁמַעְתִּי בִּשְׁמוֹ שֶׁאָמַר: שֶׁאִם לֹא הָיָה מַמְתִּין בְּבִטָּחוֹן לִישׁוּעַת ה', כְּבָר הָיָה אִישׁ נוֹסֵעַ וּמְטֻלְטָל כְּמוֹ כָּל הַנּוֹסְעִים וּמְטַלְטְלִים עַצְמָם בִּשְׁבִיל הַפַּרְנָסָה כַּנָּהוּג עַכְשָׁו.
I heard that the Rebbe once said, “If one did not have trust in God and wait for His salvation, one would have to become a traveler and a wanderer, just like many people do for their livelihood.”
וְהַכַּוָּנָה: כִּי אָמַר זֹאת לְעִנְיַן הַנְהָגַת הַבַּיִת בְּפַרְנָסָה וּמַלְבּוּשִׁים וּשְׁאָר צָרְכֵי הַבַּיִת, שֶׁעַל פִּי רֹב חָסֵר לָאָדָם הַרְבֵּה.
The Rebbe was speaking of those who must support a family. In most cases, they do not have an adequate livelihood. They often lack clothing and other necessities.
כְּגוֹן, לָזֶה חָסֵר מַלְבּוּשׁ פָּשׁוּט, וְיֵשׁ שֶׁחָסֵר לָהֶם מַלְבּוּשִׁים חֲשׁוּבִים אוֹ דִּירָה וְכוּ'.
One person may lack a simple garment. Others may lack fine clothing and mansions.
שֶׁצְּרִיכִין לְהַמְתִּין לִישׁוּעַת ה' וְלִבְלִי לִדְחֹק אֶת הַשָּׁעָה (עֵרוּבִין יג:) לְמַלְּאוֹת הַחִסָּרוֹן תֵּכֶף וּמִיָּד. רַק צְרִיכִין לְהַמְתִּין עַד יְרַחֵם ה'.
We must wait for God’s help and not press the hour (Eruvin 13b). Do not try to take care of all your needs at once, but wait until God shows His mercy.
וְאָמַר עַל עַצְמוֹ עִנְיָן הַנַּ"ל שֶׁאִם לֹא הָיָה מַמְתִּין, כְּגוֹן כְּשֶׁהָיָה חָסֵר לוֹ אֵיזֶה דָּבָר, אִם הָיָה דּוֹחֵק אֶת הַשָּׁעָה שֶׁיִּהְיֶה דַּוְקָא תֵּכֶף, הָיָה צָרִיךְ לִלְווֹת לְעַצְמוֹ וְלִהְיוֹת בַּעַל חוֹב עַד שֶׁהָיָה מֻכְרָח לִהְיוֹת נוֹסֵעַ וּמְטֻלְטָל. כְּמוֹ שֶׁאָנוּ יוֹדְעִים עִנְיַן הַנּוֹסְעִים שֶׁהֵם מֻכְרָחִים תָּמִיד לִסַּע עַל הַמְּדִינָה מֵחֲמַת שֶׁהֵם תָּמִיד בַּעֲלֵי חוֹבוֹת.
The Rebbe said about himself, “If I did not have patience when I needed something, if I would have pressed the hour and demanded it immediately, I would have had to borrow money and become a debtor. I would then be forced to wander and travel, trying to earn money. I would be just like the many others who are forced to go from place to place because of this.”
וְעִנְיָן זֶה צְרִיכִים לֵידַע מְאֹד. וּצְרִיכִין לִלְמֹד עַצְמוֹ לְהַרְגִּיל אֶת עַצְמוֹ בָּזֶה מְאֹד. כִּי לְכָל אָדָם חָסֵר הַרְבֵּה, אֲפִלּוּ בַּעֲלֵי בָּתִּים וַעֲשִׁירִים גְּדוֹלִים, מִכָּל שֶׁכֵּן מְקַבְּלִים אֲפִלּוּ הַחֲשׁוּבִים וְהַגְּדוֹלִים. וְצָרִיךְ לָזֶה לְהִסְתַּפֵּק בְּמִעוּט וּלְהַנְהִיג בֵּיתוֹ כְּפִי הַשָּׁעָה וְהַזְּמַן.
Realize this and live accordingly. Every man has much that he lacks, including householders and even the rich. This is tru too of those who are supported by others. It is best to be satisfied with a minimum and run your household with what you have at the time.
וְאִם נִדְמֶה לוֹ שֶׁצָּרִיךְ מַלְבּוּשׁ אוֹ לְאִשְׁתּוֹ וּבָנָיו, אַף־עַל־פִּי שֶׁמֻּכְרָח לוֹ, אַל יִדְחַק הַשָּׁעָה לִלְווֹת וּלְהַקִּיף וְלִהְיוֹת בַּעַל חוֹב, אַךְ יַמְתִּין עַד שֶׁיָּבוֹא עִתּוֹ.
It may appear to you that your wife and children need clothing, for example (see “His Wisdom” #100). They may need it very badly, but still, do not force the hour and go into debt.. Wait until the right time comes and you can pay for your needs.
וְטוֹב לִסְבֹּל דֹּחַק אֲפִלּוּ בִּמְזוֹנוֹת וְכָל־שֶׁכֵּן בְּמַלְבּוּשִׁים וְדִירוֹת וְכוּ' וְלֹא לִהְיוֹת בַּעַל חוֹב.
It is better to endure privation than to fall into debt. This is true even regarding food. How much more does it apply to clothing and housing.
וּמוּטָב שֶׁיִּהְיֶה בַּעַל חוֹב לְעַצְמוֹ אוֹ לִבְנֵי בֵּיתוֹ בְּמַלְבּוּשִׁים מִלִּהְיוֹת בַּעַל חוֹב לְהַחֶנְוָנִי אוֹ לַאֲחֵרִים.
It is better to be in debt to yourself than to the storekeeper. It is better to be in debt to your family and owe them the clothing.
כִּי בְּכָל עִנְיְנֵי פַּרְנָסָה צְרִיכִין לְהַמְתִּין עַד שֶׁיָּבוֹא עִתּוֹ כַּנַּ"ל. כְּמוֹ שֶׁכָּתוּב (תְּהִלִּים קמה): "עֵינֵי כֹל אֵלֶיךָ יְשַׂבֵּרוּ וְאַתָּה נוֹתֵן לָהֶם אֶת אָכְלָם בְּעִתּוֹ".
In all such matters, you must wait for the proper time. It is written, “The eyes of all look to You, and You give them their food in its time” (Psalms 145:15).