אות - קלט

When he told me (273) the matter printed in Likutay Tinyana section 86 on the verse (Shemos 6:9): "from shortness of breath and from hard labor" — that through smallness of faith one must engage in hard labors etc. — see there — I stood before him as one stunned, and my thoughts were amazed at this matter. For it seemed to me that I have some faith. He answered and said with a slight tone of rebuke, as if to say: And if you have faith, you have no faith in yourself (in German: "Hostu in dir kain emunah nit"). And he immediately mentioned the statement of our Sages o.b.m.: "Who is it that despises the day of small things [mi vaz l'yom ketanos]? Who is it that caused the tables of the Tzadikim to be wasted in the World to Come? The smallness [ketanus] that was within them themselves — that they did not believe in themselves." And Rashi o.b.m. explained it there plainly as smallness of faith. But from the precise language of the Gemara which says "that was within them themselves," the meaning of Rabbainu's words appears clearly — that the primary smallness of faith of theirs was in themselves. And one can explain accordingly that they did not believe in Hashem Yisburach that He is good to all and that they are important and great in His eyes blessed He. And because of this they had smallness. And this was the primary smallness of their faith — what they did not believe in themselves. And the general principle understood from his words is that a person must have faith in himself — that he too is beloved before Hashem Yisburach. For according to the greatness of the goodness of Hashem Yisburach, he too is great and important in His eyes blessed He. And this matter has already been explained many times — that it is not humility to be in smallness of mind, Heaven forbid. And one must ask greatly from Hashem Yisburach to merit true paths of humility etc. (See Likutay Tinyana sections 22 and 72 and in many other places.) And also afterward, close to that time after he said the aforementioned matter, Rosh HaShanah arrived and he then said the Torah "Chadi Rabbi Shimon" (section 61 in Part One). And there he mentioned the matter of deficiency of faith in oneself — see there in section 5 what is written. And there are those who have contention against them because they have no faith in themselves (274) etc. 273. RAK: This Torah was said a little before Rosh HaShanah 5568. 274. RAK: See Likutay Moharan 61, section 5.