Who Do You Really Rely On? The Mistake (Almost) All of Us Make

The Daily Quote

'And so, a person whose entire life and needs depend on one person – should not place his trust in his heart on that person, but should place the root of his trust deep in his heart in Hashem. And it is not enough to say so with words alone if his heart is elsewhere, but he should give praise and thanks to Hashem for not withdrawing His kindness from him.

Take, in your hand, a beautiful parable on this subject: It is as if a hundred blind people walk one after the other, each putting his hand on his friend's shoulder, and at the head of them all is a seeing person who guides them all behind him. Everyone knows that even though one puts his hand on his friend's shoulder and he guides him, this leadership does not come from his friend's power, but they all follow the first seeing man. If he were to pull away, they would all stumble and fall. A person should consider this and think that there is no leader other than Hashem, and we are all like blind people, each of us assisted and helped by the help of a friend. But no power comes from the friend except through the supreme Leader who gives all, and all His ways are just, with no room for doubt.

Just as the one who is sustained does not think except about Hashem, so too, the sustainer should not pride himself on the fact that he provides, but he is like a blind person leading his blind friend with the help of the first leader who sees…'

(Orchot Tzaddikim, Gate of Joy).

The Meaning of the Quote

The words of Orchot Tzaddikim here emphasize a central idea in faith and trust in Hashem: that everything we receive, whether it's sustenance, help, or support – comes from Hashem, who is the source of all guidance and goodness in the world. Even when we see people helping us, they are just messengers of the Creator and have no independent power.

Therefore, if there is a person we depend on for certain needs (like sustenance, emotional, or physical help), we should not place absolute trust in them, but understand that all this assistance comes from Hashem, through this person. Likewise, it is not enough to make a superficial statement of trust in Hashem; it must be internalized deep in the heart. Additionally, we should thank Hashem for granting us His kindness through others.

Orchot Tzaddikim uses a parable to illustrate the idea:

A group of blind people walks in a line, each placing his hand on his friend's shoulder for guidance. At the head of the line is a seeing person, who is the true leader. The blind understand that the guidance they receive from one another is not from their personal power but because of the seeing person who leads the line. If the seeing person were to disappear, the whole line would fall apart and be lost.

Practical Conclusion: A person should understand that we are all "like blind" compared to the leadership of the Creator. Hashem is the supreme leader, and everything we receive – whether through others or directly – is from Him.

The one who is helped (who receives help) should trust only in Hashem and thank Him.

The helper (who assists others) should not be proud of his help, but recognize that he is merely a messenger of the Creator.

According to these words, humility and gratitude should be cultivated:

Humility - to understand that everything comes from Hashem, and that we have no independent power, neither as helpers nor as those being helped.

Gratitude - to thank Hashem for His goodness and guidance, and to remember that even when we receive help from humans – it is Hashem's providence guiding them to help us.

This approach strengthens faith in Hashem and deepens the personal connection with Him.

A Few Words About the Author

The identity of the author of "Orchot Tzaddikim" is unknown. According to various assumptions, it was written around the year 1440. Its main focus is on character improvement, which is considered a crucial foundation in the service of Hashem and the observance of mitzvot. The book is divided into chapters dedicated to more than 20 different virtues, alongside other important topics such as Torah study, fear of Heaven, and repentance.

Rabbi Yigal Cohen: What Is Trust in Hashem? Watch