Wholehearted with Hashem

Chazal teach that on Rosh Hashanah, Hashem judges every individual based on what he did every second of every day over the past year. With this knowledge, we should be doing everything in our power to make teshuvah and improve our ways. Especially now, in the month of Elul, when Hashem reveals an outpouring of mercy towards us, we must take advantage of this opportunity. But is there something we can do, in addition, that will make the judgment easier? The Ba'al HaTurim, commenting on the pasuk " תמים תהיה עם ה' אלקיך " , writes that whoever fulfills this mitzvah is considered as if he fulfilled the entire Torah, from aleph to tav. What does this mean? It means that one who does not worry about the future, but trusts that Hashem is leading him on the perfect path, and accepts wholeheartedly the way Hashem deals with him—without questions or complaints—is credited as if he has kept the entire Torah. Rabbi Menashe Reizman asked: Doesn't the Gemara say that it is forbidden to think that Hashem is a vatran —that He simply overlooks our wrongdoings? One of the fundamentals of emunah is that Hashem rewards mitzvot and punishes averot. If so, how can it be that someone who trusts Hashem's dealings with him, but still has sins, should be considered as if he fulfilled the entire Torah? Rabbi Reizman explained: It's not only the Ba'al HaTurim who says this. It is explicit in the pesukim themselves. In Parashat Balak, it says, " לֹא הִבִּיט אָוֶן בְּיַעֲקֹב וְלֹא רָאָה עָמָל בְּיִשְׂרָאֵל, ה' אֱלֹקָיו עִמּוֹ וּתְרוּעַת מֶלֶךְ בּוֹ ". These words are read in the Malchuyot section of the Musaf Amidah of Rosh Hashanah. Rashi explains this pasuk to mean that Hashem is not exacting with a person for his sins—even when he angers Him. Why? Because such people do not preoccupy themselves with trying to figure out the future. Instead, they place their full trust in Hashem. And because of this, Rashi says, they become worthy of blessing. What is the explanation? There are two ways a person can go through life. One way is with constant questioning: Why is my life the way it is? Why does he have so much blessing while I don't? Why does he have such good children and I struggle? Why does everyone else seem to get the good positions and I don't? Why are his daughters married off so easily, while mine are waiting so long? This is the natural human way—always comparing, always doubting, always feeling that life is unfair. If someone chooses this path, then Hashem treats him with the same precision. Hashem will look into his deeds with equal scrutiny: Why don't you concentrate on the words of tefillah? Why don't you have proper kavanah when you say berachot? But if a person does not question Hashem, if he refuses to ask "why" or "is this fair," and instead accepts that everything Hashem does is absolutely fair, upright, and the very best possible outcome—even when, from our limited perspective, it looks as if Hashem is doing "wrong" with us—then Hashem responds measure for measure: You don't question My actions, I won't question yours. This is not considered Hashem overlooking our sins. It is not a case of Hashem being a vatran . On the contrary—it is deserved. We have earned this special relationship. If we are tamim im Hashem Elokecha , then Hashem is tamim with us. This is a wondrous principle. But it is far easier said than done. The nature of man is to compare himself to others, to feel lacking, to complain—especially when things seem unfair. People try to improve, but the salvation they hope for does not always come. People pray with all their hearts, but do not always see their prayers answered. People think they have so much bitachon, but then they feel let down. Everyone has reasons they would naturally want to question. But if we can rise above that nature, if we can truly trust Hashem's will for us and believe with all our hearts that whatever is happening is absolutely the best thing for us, then we will enter a new category of human being: one who is tamim im Hashem Elokecha . And that comes with the most amazing benefits.