Bachya ben Yosef ibn Paquda (Chovot Halevavot)

Part of a series exploring classic Jewish texts that promise peace, calm and optimism.

Putting trust at the heart of our relationships - with ourselves, with one another, and with G-d - is the first step to a healthier and kinder society. For our final installment of Path to Peace we reflect on the lessons we’ve learned on our journey throu...

Building a trusting relationship isn’t just about finding someone who is trustworthy to rely on. It’s an ongoing process that requires maintenance and effort. In this lesson we learn about the work of trusting, and the benefits of engaging in that labor.

Who doesn’t want a life filled with deep, trusting relationships? Yet so often, we wind up trusting the wrong people or, worse, shutting ourselves off from others all together. In this second lesson we learn about the conditions necessary for building tru...

How often are we told to “trust ourselves,” “trust in G-d,” or “trust the process”? Given the increasing prevalence of anxiety in today’s age, trust seems to be a mythical cure to many ills. But it’s increasingly difficult to know who - or how - to trust....

Health Deterioration can rob people of their happiness and impair their ability to enjoy accumulated wealth and material possessions, for money can’t buy health. Trusting in Hashem’s goodness grants a purposeful perspective on sickness and suffering that ...

Rabbeinu Bachaya maintains that ultimately all earthly powers seek to dominate, control or even harm us, and only full Bitachon can free us from fearing them. People, animals and even inanimate objects may threaten our wellbeing, yet if we place total tru...

The "Person of Faith" lives with a true sense of inner peace—fully relying on G-d for his needs, and has absolute trust that Hashem will sustain and provide for him. Rabbeinu Bachaya frames this idea of G-d being the sole source of sustenance across the f...

Ironically the “lucky one” possessing keys to unlocking quick riches is always anxious and forever looking over his shoulder, trusting no one. Conversely those living with trust in Hashem experience inner peace and is absolved of worries, anxiety and conc...

Rabbeinu Bachaya returns to contrasting the peace of mind and tranquility attained by the alchemist with the person who has attained absolute trust in Hashem. Despite the latter's relatively easy quick-get-rich schemes, the reality of every vocation's occ...