The Lesson of Bitachon: Overcoming Jealousy and Finding Your Unique Mission This lesson on Bitachon (trust and reliance on God) is drawn from the teachings of Rabbi Shlomo Wolbe , specifically in a letter he wrote to a young Yeshivah bachur (student) suffering from depression and lack of focus in his learning. Rabbi Wolbe identifies the root cause of the student's distress—and the core theme of the story of Cain and Abel in the weekly Torah portion ( Parsha )—as jealousy. The Root Cause: Measuring Yourself by Others The student, being in a Yeshivah environment surrounded by talented peers, was constantly comparing himself to others. He could only see his friends' positive qualities and talents while focusing exclusively on his own deficiencies and lacking's. He felt that because he didn't possess their specific gifts, he was unable to achieve success. To combat this, Rabbi Wolbe stresses a fundamental principle of Bitachon : You must know that HaKadosh Baruch Hu (God) gives every single person the necessary talents and abilities to fulfill his or her mission in life. This concept is acknowledged every morning in the Birchot HaShachar (Morning Blessings) when we declare: She'asah li kol tzarchi ("Who has provided me with all my needs"). This blessing confirms that everything a person requires—both physically and spiritually—to fulfill their unique destiny has already been granted to them by the Creator. The problem, therefore, is not a lack of abilities, but a lack of perspective: constantly measuring oneself with other people's measuring sticks. The Principle of Non-Overlapping Kingdoms Rabbi Wolbe calls the recognition of one's unique giftedness an Avodah Gedolah (great and important work). The crucial realization is embodied in the principle: Ein Malchut Noga'at B'Chavarta (One kingdom does not touch the other.) This means that the reign of two kings will not overlap. In a spiritual context, it signifies that God gave you your abilities, and only you can do what you are meant to do. Your friends, with all their specific talents and knowledge, will fulfill their missions, and you will fulfill yours . You must stop comparing yourself to others and instead believe that your Creator has already provided all your spiritual needs. The Lesson from Cain and Abel The lesson of non-reliance on external approval is mirrored in the Torah's account of Cain. When God rejects Cain's offering, He asks him: "Why are you so upset, and why has your face fallen? If you do good, you will be lifted up..." (Genesis 4:6-7). Commenting on this verse, the Or HaChaim (a classic commentary) notes that when a person performs good deeds, those deeds naturally elevate themselves. The spiritual status of the deed is inherent, not dependent on external validation. Rabbi Wolbe emphasizes a related powerful statement: HaKedusha einah tzerichah la'acheirim (Holiness does not need the approval of others.) You are not dependent on others to validate your efforts or your talents. If you possess the qualities, you need only to execute your mission. The Danger: Rotting Bones This concept is rooted in the verse from Proverbs (14:30): Rakev atzamot kinah (Jealousy causes the bones to rot). When a person is consumed by jealousy, they forget all the positive things God has given them. They only focus on what others possess, and in the process, their own inherent potential atrophies. The "bones" that support the person's self-worth become rotten due to the focus on what is lacking. The Final Foundation It is crucial to believe that God does not want everyone to look, learn, or understand things the same way. Each person has their own approach based on their unique talents and abilities. When a person dedicates effort using their personal gifts, they will merit achieving what they need to achieve. Rabbi Wolbe concludes with a famous story of Rabbi Naftali Amsterdam, one of the foremost students of Rabbi Yisrael Salanter: Rabbi Amsterdam once lamented to his Rebbe : "If only I had the keen intellect of the Sha'agat Aryeh, the pious heart of the Yesod V'Shoresh HaAvodah, and the perfected character traits of my Rebbe (Rabbi Salanter)— then I could truly serve God!" Rabbi Salanter immediately responded: "Naftali, with your head, with your heart, and your character traits, you can be a true servant of God." This is the fundamental principle of Bitachon : Believing that God has given you exactly what you need to fulfill your mission in life, and relying on Him to help you get there. The first murder in history stemmed from this failure to understand one's own mission, a "Cain" trait that we must all recognize and strive to overcome.