Questions tagged [hashgacha-pratit]
The concept of direct Divine providential supervision over the circumstances of individuals
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Does trusting in my efforts guarantee I'll be unsuccessful?
R. Bachya ibn Paquda states (Chovos Halevavos, Shaar Habitachon, Pesicha):
ואם יבטח על חכמתו ותחבולותיו וכח גופו והשתדלותו ייגע לריק ויחלש כחו ותקצר תחבולתו מהשיג חפצו
Taken literally, this implies ...
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Messages from Hashem
I have heard from my teachers that when something major happens in the world, this is a message from Hashem. But it is a message for Israel and actually for the religious people in our nation- because ...
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Hashem too holy to abide by us, yet closer to us than we can imagine - how to resolve?
It seems like, when it comes to Hashem's closeness to us, we have 2 different sides, and they go in opposite directions and I would like to know how to resolve them.
A) On the one hand, the reason why ...
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Does H'shem makes it harder to grow spiritually on purpose?
I heard that, sometimes, H'shem makes it harder to grow spiritually so that we can appreciate better our growth when we finally conquer high spiritual levels. It is true? If so, what is the source?
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Punishment, free will, and being an agent
I seem to recall (in the context of no one experiencing hurt/punishment unless Hashem decreed it) that those who are lacking in merit are used as instruments to punish others, so we pray to not be an ...
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Lessons of the mann?
I think it is understood that the מן ("mann", manna) has a lot to teach us about Hashem's hashgacha (providence) over us and how he sustains us with parnassah. The Torah even prescribes (...
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How is it we often see people who are on a mission to do a mitzvah get harmed?
The gemara quotes Rabbi Elazar no less than six(6) times saying, "שְׁלוּחֵי מִצְוָה אֵינָן נִיזּוֹקִין -- those on a mission to do a mitzvah are not harmed." (Pesachim 8a, 8b (twice), ...
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Destined how many shidduch proposals?
Rabbi Dr. Wikler (p. 142) quotes a story of a Chassidic Rebbe looking for a shidduch for his daughter who would pay shadchanim for proposing a potential match even though the Rebbe declined the offer. ...
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Emunah and failures?
Rav Arush in the Garden of Emunah apparently has a concept that failures are from Hashem see here :
Before making a mistake, a person has apparent free choice not to make a mistake. But, after the ...
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When doing something we regret later, can one attribute their misstep to Hashem?
Suppose you do something “stupid” that you later regret. It makes you very discontent you could have made such a foolish error, as at the time you just weren’t thinking clearly and you should have and ...
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What happens on Hoshanah Rabbah?
On Rosh Hashanah the judgment is written.
On Yom Kippur it is sealed.
But we really have until Hoshanah Rabbah to repent. The Zohar [Tzav 31b] says that's when the judgment is delivered.
Who is ...
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Translation of Pichifkes
Rav Henoch Teller has a book titled Pichifkes (most of which can be read here) on stories of Divine Providence. What does "Pichifkes" mean?
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Torah 'not in Heaven' and free choice
The concept of “Torah lo b’shomayim hi” is usually taken to mean that the halacha is not decided (by G-d) in Heaven, but rather by people here on Earth. However, since nothing happens outside of G-d’s ...
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Which individuals does Ramban say do not enjoy providential treatment by G-d?
Ramban on Deuteronomy 11:13:
""בכל לבבכם ובכל נפשכם" - והלא כבר הזכיר בכל לבבך ובכל נפשך אלא אזהרה ליחיד ואזהרה לצבור לשון רש"י מספרי (עקב יג). ובאור הענין כי השם לא יעשה הנסים ...
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BeH, BSD, iyH - source?
Many have the practice both in speech and in writing to mention Gd or heavenly help with the use of the expressions be’ezrat hashem, im yirtzeh hashem or biseyata dishmaya.
What is the source for ...
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Does G-d control all things all the time?
I want to share some thoughts:
I believe HaShem can do whatever he wants to, and He can do it whenever He wants to. The entire existence is a creation of G-ds consciousness; everything that can be ...
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Divine Providence for individuals and purpose of Creation
This question is about Jewish philosophers. I ask myself if there is not a logical link between two issues and it is, if authors address it
Is there a link between the theory that the world was ...
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Hashgachah pratis according to Rambam/n
Rambam in Moreh Nevuchim 3:18 and Ramban in his commentary to Iyov (do not remember exactly where) as well as on Parashas Vayeiroh (Bereishis 18:19) say that for the majority of humanity, including ...
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Does G-d feed every creature?
Does Psalm 145:16 teach that G-d ensures the well being of every living animal?
"You open your hand and satisfy the desire of every living thing"
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Questions on the Netziv's understanding of Isaac's birth
Haamek Davar to Vayera 18:12 (and, to a lesser extent, the surrounding verses) and Harchev Davar (by the same author) to Vayera 21:3 explain Sarah's laughter on learning that she and Abraham would ...
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Free choice versus the Will of G-d [duplicate]
What are the different Hashkofas (outlooks/philosophies) in understanding free choice in a matter versus HaShem's Will occurring in that same thing?
For example, if my wife divorces me, did she ...
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Divine Providence and Mishpatim 21:13
The Rambam, and many other Rishonim believed that divine providence extends to people in accordance with their righteousness. It follows that they believed that many times, G-d lets things happen ...
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(Why) Did God send Shabbetai Tzvi?
I have heard at least a dozen different explanations for why (and even how) God allowed the Holocaust to happen, all predicated on the notion that God is entirely in control and that even the ...
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Understanding the Bracha of Hashiveinu in Shemoneh Esrei
It is commonly understood that God gave us free will to do good or evil. Similarly, it says in Gemara B'rachot (33b) that "Everything is in the hands of Heaven, except for the fear of Heaven."
In ...
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What can one do to see clearer that God is really in charge of everything?
Based on my Jewish learning it is clear that God created the world, oversees everything and everything that happens is in accord with his will.
However as I carry out my day to day activities it ...
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Which (if any) Rishonim ascribe to a haskafah of hashgacha pratis over everything?
In contemporary times, HaShem's hashgacha over everything is a common hashkafah, at least in the Litvish/Chassidic communities (see Baal Shem Tov, Aruch HaShulchan, Rav Dessler 'Strive for Truth', ...
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Victim of an Accidental Killing - Source
I recall learning (many years ago) that in a case of accidental killing that qualifies the "killer" to go to an Ir Miklat, the victim in the case was someone who deserved a death penalty but the human ...
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Was God actively involved in bringing out the Holocaust?
Did the Holocaust occur due to G-d's active involvement, or was it due to Him merely removing His protection from them?
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Does God's providence extend to all people or only righteous people?
Does God's providence (Hashgacha Pratit) extend to all people? to all individuals of the nation of Israel? or only to righteous people (צדיקים)?
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Is Hashem 'involved' in everything that happens?
The view in current Haredi thought seems to be that Hashem actively runs the world down to the most minute occurrences. I have seen discussions allude to the fact that there are many Rishonim who did ...
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Interpreting divine messages
It is an article of faith that Hashem directs our lives individually (hashgacha pratit), and part of that guidance includes instructions about what each person should or shouldn't be doing. If we had ...
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How is it that harm befalls a shaliach mitzvah if the Gemara says it doesn't?
As a followup on this answer from another question, the Gemara on Pesachim 8a seems to say that a shaliach mitzvah, someone who is doing a mitzvah or on the way to do one or even on the way back is ...
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Do non-jews have soul mates?
We know that Jews have soul mates: people whom they are destined to marry.
Do non-Jews have people they are destined to marry?
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Why does 'sharpening' depend on effort, and memorization on divine assistance?
The Bavli, M'gila 6 amud 2:
ואמר ר׳ יצחק אם יאמר לך אדם יגעתי ולא מצאתי אל תאמן לא יגעתי ומצאתי אל תאמן יגעתי ומצאתי תאמן הני מילי בדברי תורה אבל במשא ומתן סייעתא הוא מן שמיא ולדברי תורה לא אמרן ...
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Interpreting events during prayer as signs
Suppose a person is praying for parnasah as they drop a coin into a tzedakah box. At that very moment, there is a loud rumble of thunder, even though the weather conditions wouldn't seem to warrant it,...
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Is God active or passive?
This is bothering me a lot.
Is God active (he changes things, tunes a little when it goes wrong) or he is passive or even he "passed away" when creating this Universe, meaning we are made from God ...
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How do Segulas Work?
How do segulas work? For example, according to the Zohar, one who reads the Ketores daily will get all sorts of berachos in his financial areas and will become wealthy.
Yet the amount of money one is ...
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Why does Hashem sometimes wait until the very last minute?
I have noticed in my own life and in that of others, that very often during a time of tzarah, Hashem waits until the very very last moment to send a Yeshua. Are there any sources that discuss the ...
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Why do Jews look before crossing streets?
If Jews claim everything is predestined, and that we can do nothing to change it, why do we look before we cross the road? I'm a Jewish man myself and personally never look before crossing and have ...
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How much of this world is really ordained by Heaven?
On another website, someone quoted the Rambam:
I do not believe that it is through the interference of Divine Providence that a certain leaf drops [from a tree], nor do I hold that when a certain ...
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Are these two urban legends about perceptions of God's help for Jews true?
The following story is told as an urban legend:
I don't know if the following story is true, but I'll let you decide. Kenya's star soccer player used to offer a prayer for victory before every game....
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Sneezing during davening
I have read in the Gemara (Berachoth 24B) that sneezing during the Shemonei Esrei is a sign that your tefillot have been accepted. "Just as you have been granted relief below, so you have been granted ...
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