It’s the season, the era, it’s a planetary thing...Emunah is all the buzz these days. Yeshiva curriculums are being created from scratch by a new wave of educators – it is so vitally important. Without Emunah, we run the risk of becoming empty inside. Even though faith is implanted in our DNA, we as a people go through periods where our Emunah desperately needs strengthening. This generation is one of those times.
It’s all about the right teacher – a mentor who speaks to our hearts and helps us wash away harsh interpretations that may have led us down a path of coldness and unhelpful guilt. Whether on a podcast or live, one thing is for sure; the right answers will mend our hearts.
If we don’t take a daily dose of Emunah, through a shiur, virtual or otherwise, we may fall prey to anxiety and self-doubt. And run the risk of transmitting these emotions to the next generation. Dangerous indeed.
Yomtov has strengthened and reinvigorated us all. If you haven’t done so already – grab on to one of the many lifelines of emunah and bitachon. Gedale Fenster, Rabbi Efrem Goldberg, Chovos Halevavos inside with a chavrusa, an inspirational whatsapp message – grab whatever speaks to you, but grab you must! The waters are rough out there without a life preserver. Literally.
There have been other periods as well in which our faith was threatened. When the Yemenite Jews came to the newly founded state of Israel, the early leaders of the government tried to wrestle away their faith. Professionals were hired to give classes, in hopes of convincing the Yemenite community that religion was not logical.
“You must believe only that which you see” the lecturer prodded them. “Do you see this table? Then you may believe that it is here. Do you see this chair? “Yes”, they said, “Then it exists. Do you see G-d?” :No,” they answered. “Then why do you believe in Him?”
From the back of the room, a bright young Yemenite boy said “My friends, do you see the brain of our lecturer? No! So we may safely assume that he has none!”
Ours is a tradition that is based upon an intimate relationship with our Creator. At the beginning of each year, He calls us with love, re-igniting our desire to come even closer – let’s not leave this call unanswered.
This is the year to leave no stone unturned in our desire to grow our Emunah. We must herald a renaissance of belief. We owe it to ourselves, our children and our nation. Good Shabbos!
Written by R’ Avrohom Hillel Reich based on a lesson and story by Harav Ben Tziyon Sneh Shlita
