Author: ArtScroll Staff

Rav Chaim Soloveichik once saw his son, Yitzchak Zev, the future Brisker Rav, when he was a young boy, studying Chovos HaLevavos with intense effort. R’ Chaim said to him, with satisfaction: “Learn, learn. Chovos HaLevavos is the Shulchan Aruch of Yiddishkeit!”

Written almost a thousand years ago, Chovos HaLevavos is a revered classic, learned — and loved — by every generation since that time. A Shulchan Aruch, indeed: Just as the Shulchan Aruch guides our actions, showing us how to fulfill the mitzvos properly, Chovos HaLevavos guides our thoughts and feelings, gently but firmly teaching us how to create a strong, unbreakable connection to our loving Father.

Shaar HaBitachon, the fourth section of Chovos HaLevavos, is often studied as a self-contained work. It discusses many of the most fundamental Torah hashkafos. Its ancient words speak to our contemporary lives with amazing relevance, and it is studied especially by people needing encouragement in facing painful challenges.

How do I strengthen my bitachon, especially in these trying times? How do I find the right balance between hishtadlus — effort — and bitachon — faith? How can I experience the menuchas hanefesh, peace of mind, of someone who truly trusts Hashem? As Jews committed to Torah, mitzvos, and seeking a close connection to Hashem, the answers to these questions are vitally important to us.

This classic Torah masterpiece has now been translated and elucidated in a way that makes it accessible to all of us, scholar and layman alike. Created by the talmidei chachamim who brought us the bestselling classics Mesillas Yesharim and Shaarei Teshuvah, The Jaffa Family Edition Shaar HaBitachon of Chovos HaLevavos includes a phrase-by-phrase translation, in the format of the Schottenstein Talmud and the ArtScroll Rashi. Extensive explanatory notes, based on a broad range of commentaries and mussar classics, give us a deeper understanding, and the Insights section bring the words of Shaar HaBitachon into our lives, showing us how we can live in tranquility when we fully trust in Hashem’s goodness — and how to achieve that trust. This is a sefer that shows us the richness and depth of Shaar HaBitachon and how it relates to our everyday lives.

ArtScroll’s newly released Jaffa Family Edition Shaar Habitachon of Chovas HaLevavos will help us face the new year with serenity and confidence in Hashem’s compassion and goodness.

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AS: Beis HaLevi on Bitachon has an interesting history. Can you tell us about the manuscript and how it came to be published?

RDS: As Rosh Yeshivah of Volozhin, founder of the Brisk dynasty, and author of Beis HaLevi al HaTorah and Teshuvos Beis HaLevi, Rabbi Yosef Dov Soloveitchik is revered throughout the Torah world. The Beis HaLevi made another significant written contribution to the Torah world, which is much less known: the Ma’amar HaBitachon. It provides vital, all-encompassing insights on the true meaning of emunah and bitachon, as well as on the fundamentals of man’s relationship with God. The Beis HaLevi’s essay on bitachon was not published during his lifetime. The manuscript accompanied his descendants along a long journey until it was finally published as an appendix to Beis HaLevi al HaTorah in 1985. We now have the zechus of taking this hidden treasure of Torah and offering it to the general public. This volume includes the original text, a flowing and readable translation, commentary, insights, and an Overview.

AS: A unique feature is a section of pesukim to recite in order to strengthen bitachon. Tell us about this custom.

RDS: The more one has bitachon on his lips, the more it will enter his heart. Listen to what the Sefer HaChinuch says about this custom. “These pesukim in Tehillim about reliance on Hashem contain ideas that inspire the soul of a person who knows them, arousing him to rely on Hashem …. As a result of that inspiration, he will without any doubt be protected from all possible harm.” The Maharal said, “Every person must recite pesukim of reliance on Hashem to train and habituate himself in faith and belief in Hashem.” The Maharal also quoted his grandfather, saying, “We have received an accepted tradition … that reciting verses of reliance on Hashem has the power to annul all harsh decrees.”

AS: How can this sefer help us in these challenging times?

RD: To paraphrase a well-known saying: When the going gets tough — the Jew works on bitachon. Emunah and bitachon give us the strength to deal with the world around us. We are living in a period of challenges in many areas of life, throughout the world, so we are especially proud to present this book at a time when so many people will benefit from it.

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It’s going to be a very different Rosh Hashanah this year.

For some of us, in places where Covid-19 is raging, we may be davening in parking lots, backyards, or porches, locked out of our beloved shuls. 

Even for those fortunate enough to be able to daven in their shul this Rosh Hashanah, so many of the words of the machzor take on a special and different meaning. “Remember us for life” — in a year when Covid-19 is still running wild in many places, and the threat of a second wave is beginning to feel very real, and very frightening. “Inscribe us in the book of life, blessing, and peace, and good livelihood” — at a time when whole industries have collapsed in the shadow of coronavirus.

With all the challenges of the past year and our fears for the year to come, we want our tefillos to be especially fervent and sincere. ArtScroll’s newly-released Rav Druck on the Machzor: Unlocking the treasures of the Rosh Hashanah prayers will give us a whole new understanding of the tefillos and help us open our hearts with deep and authentic kavanah.  

Rav Yisroel Meir Druck is a Rosh Yeshivah and popular speaker who elevates audiences wherever he goes. He follows in the footsteps of his illustrious father, HaRav Mordechai Druck, the famed “Maggid of Yerushalayim.” For thirty years, Rav Yisrael Meir has been a chavrusa of Maran HaGaon Rav Chaim Kanievsky shlita. When Rav Chaim asked him to found Yeshivah Tiferes Yisrael, named for the Steipler Gaon, Rav Druck began in 2004 with a small cluster of talmidim. Since then it has become one of the world’s fastest growing yeshivahs, with 2,000 students, from beginners to advanced Kollel.

Rav Druck’s insights, firmly based on a large variety of classic Torah sources, are brief, readable, and very, very intriguing. He offers us a new clarity on concepts such as Hashem’s Kingship, mercy and judgment, the simanim of the holiday, the many dimensions of prayer, and much more. We will better understand the significance of the shofar and the inestimable power of teshuvah. And yes, as we gain these new understandings, we will daven with more intensity and sincerity, truly connecting with the words of the Machzor.

Use it to prepare yourself for Yom Tov, or take it with you to read during the quiet moments in shul. Your tefillos will never be the same!

Get your copy today here: artscroll.com