Reply To: Going t Kever Rochel – “Mama Rochel helf mir”

Sam Klien – you are playing with the word “dependent” on others besides Hashem. Hashem gives us life, yet you “depend” on your food to live. Would you die without food? It is a true statement that the food gives you life…It is a true statement that Hashem gives you life. But the two dependencies are not identical.

We go to a doctor not just for “advice” (as you write) but to heal us. Yes, it is a true statement that the doctor does heal and it is a true statement that Hashem is the healer of all flesh. We depend on the doctor. We depend on Hashem, and the two dependencies are not identical.

We go to a Tzaddik. We depend on him. And we depend on Hashem. How can we “depend” on a Tzadik? The same way we can depend on food to sustain us and a doctor to heal us – which does not diminish our dependence on Hashem for life and healing.