Mrs. Dina Schoonmaker’s four virtual summer classes on the Beis HaLevi hosted by Midreshet Adina, began on Tuesday, July 2. The future classes will be July 9, July 16, and July 30, b’ezras Hashem.
Mrs. Schoonmaker began by speaking about the story of the Mann, which the Brisker Rav taught should not be related to as an historical event. Rather, it is an anchor for us forever in life. The Navi Yirmiyahu kept Mann in a bottle to remember the life lesson.
Mann tastes like what you want it to taste. Each person had it tailormade to what they wanted. It looked the same, but its taste was custom-made. The message is that just as the Mann was custom-made, so too are life circumstances. The Mann teaches that it is ridiculous to compare ourselves to others, because Hashem gave each of us tailor-made life circumstances. The Mann teaches that we have a personalized relationship with Hashem.
Hashem wants us to grow from something we lack. We must understand that Hashem knows what is best for us. He decides for us. Our life circumstances are what our nefesh chose. The body includes emotional responses. The body wasn’t there at the time of choosing.
When we experience a pinch, like why couldn’t my son learn like someone else’s son, or any other feelings like this. We have to remember that some tzadikim and g’dolim suffered with spouses or children who were not on a high spiritual level like they were. Some g’dolim had children who didn’t go in their direction. We have to remember that Hashem gives the neshamah what it needs for its path.
We experience challenges and the soul understands even when the body doesn’t.
She pointed out that the Mann dropped from Shamayim in abundance. Everyone received the specific amount he needed. The Beis HaLevi explained that Hashem dropped this abundance to undo a niggling thought that Hashem doesn’t have enough. He gave us a visual that He has so much, but He gives us what we need. We receive what is good for us. Sometimes when we have a problem that is not solved, we have to remind ourselves that nothing is too hard for Hashem. He gives us what we should have.
Competition comes when we think Hashem only has a finite amount and we feel someone else is getting our portion. This is false. The Beis HaLevi teaches that everyone receives his own individual portion. Hashem has plenty and He decides what is good for us.
Mrs. Schoonmaker added that there is no concept of worrying about inflation. You will have the amount of food you should have.
She taught that a baal bitachon has better personal relationships. This is because he knows everything is from Hashem and another person can’t take anything away from him. There is no feeling of jealousy. He has better emotional regulation and less anxiety.
The Gemara teaches that one of the questions we are asked after 120 years is: Did we set aside time for Torah learning? Bitachon allows us to make room for our spirituel priorities. Setting aside time for Torah learning is a sign that you believe that Hashem controls finances.
We need to ask ourselves if the structural setup of our life shows I believe Hashem controls the world. Do I make time for davening, spending time with loved ones, respecting parents, shiurim, etc.?
Baruch Hashem that we have Shabbos. In the wider world, people are anxious to spend all their time making money. Shabbos teaches us to stop and show we believe that Hashem runs the world.
She taught that worrying is medicated by the Mann. Hashem gives us what we need each day. Worrying about tomorrow makes today worse. We rob ourselves of the beauty of the present. Mann teaches us that every day we receive from Hashem what we need for that day.
She said, “Live life to the fullest today. Don’t worry about the future.”
THE BEIS HA’LEVI ON BITACHON: Tuesday at 10:15 a.m.
Money can be Zelled to 917-603-5614, or please make checks out to Midreshet Adina, Inc. and send to or put in white mailbox. Please write which class you are paying for. All classes are recorded. Rosenthal, 136-05 72nd Road, Flushing, NY 11367
By Susie Garber
