Rationale + Belief = Faith
PARSHAS YISRO
Good Shabbos! Our portion begins: “Yisro heard all that G-d had done for Moshe and Yisrael; that G-d had taken them out of Egypt” (Exodus 18:1). Rashi asks: What news did Yisro hear which caused him to join the Jewish Nation? Rashi answers: He heard of the splitting of the Sea, and of the war with Amalek.
The obvious question is: why should Yisro have been aroused to join the nation of Israel only after hearing of both the miracles at the sea and of the war with Amalek. The miracle of splitting the sea was so great that each and every person there experienced Divine Revelation. The whole world saw the mighty hand of G-d make the sea stop to save the Jews and then flow again to kill the Egyptians. Shouldn’t this have been enough to persuade Yisro to join the Jews? What changed when he heard that Amalek waged war against this young nation of Israel?
The answer might be as follows:
- Indeed, the splitting of the sea was an open and revealed miracle that enabled the entire world to openly see the hand of G-d.
- Indeed, after hearing of this miracle alone, Yisro was ready to give up the numerous idols he had previously worshipped and serve only the one G-d - Hashem - Maker of heaven and earth.
- Indeed, Yisro reasoned, any person with a brain in their head would now be compounded to and serve only G-d and revere his chosen nation of Israel.
But then, Yisro head that Amalek attacked Israel. How could any nation attack the people of Israel who were obviously so well connected and protected by Al-mighty G-d? The entire world had just seen the bond the Jews had with Al-mighty G-d. Of course any nation which attacked them would be defeated. How could Amalek have been so foolish?
It was therefore upon hearing that Amalek chose to wage war even after seeing the miracle of the splitting of the sea that Yisro realized that faith in G-d cannot be based solely on intellectual proofs or reasons. There must be some other ingredient that Amalek lacked. There must be something that is stronger than reasoning that can witness such an awesome miracle one day and then rebel the very next day against that awesome power.
Yisro realized that faith must go hand in hand with “Belief”. For that reason - to create, strengthen and grow this belief in G-d beyond the level of rational faith - for that reason and purpose Yisro came to live with the people of Israel.
Maybe that is why there is the obligation to “believe in G-d”. This would seem to infer that belief is not something that automatically comes as a result of seeing G-d’s miraculous hand in providing for His nation. If that were the case, there would be no need to command us to believe in Him, for the whole world would do so automatically. Belief means to cultivate one’s faith on a daily basis so that it grows to become part of one’s very makeup and belief system, beyond the level which rational faith alone can comprehend.
Faith in G-d has further applications as well. It includes faith in the future - in the country, in the economy, in our synagogue, in our Jewish community, in the future of Israel, in the coming of Moshiach, and in G-d’s Divine plan for mankind.
Faith is not buying a stock when everything is going up. It doesn’t take much faith to believe in G-d when everything in life seems rosy and perfect. The definition of the word “faith” as we have just explained it, is to trust in something or someone when rational proof alone does not require it to be so. If we had proof that it was all going to work out, we wouldn’t need faith. It is precisely when things are not going smoothly that we need to search deep within ourselves to find that essential trust and faith in G‑d that He make everything work out in the best and finest way.
Sadly, faith doesn’t come as easy to our generation as it did in the days of our grandparents. They instinctively knew things that we have to struggle with. Yet it is clear to see with hindsight, that their positive attitudes stood by them in good stead and help them achieve great things that otherwise may have been totally impossible.
The Sages of the Kabballah explain it as follows. They teach that positive thoughts and positive speech open new channels of Divine Blessing into the world. So it isn’t just “Keep an upper lip”, so things don’t seem so bad. It means that the very best thing one can do during times of difficulty is to maintain belief and to “keep the faith”. This will open up new channels of blessing from G-d. This will give us new gifts and new opportunities for success. Faith isn’t automatic. Pessimism is much easier. But building faith is a mitzvah and one that seems to directly benefit us beyond its requirements and purpose for G-d.
May we all have faith - in ourselves, our synagogue, our community, and in G-d, and may the future bring us more blessings that we ever imagined, and let us say AMAIN.
