Monday, February 9, 2009

Emuna Goes Beyond Miracles



While learning Mishneh Torah of the RAMBAM, we went over a very interesting concept involving the prophecy of Moshe Rabbeinu as well as the prophecy of anyone after him. RAMBAM says that a Prophet who says that he comes in the name of Hashem is not required to perform miracles, and if he does this should not be the determining factor in his authenticity, because miracles can also be performed with sorcery and magic. Why then did Moshe Rabbeinu perform so many miracles before and during the Exodus from Egypt? The answer is that those miracles served a purpose. They were not to bring legitimacy to Moshe, but to accomplish something that could not be done by natural means. RAMBAM says that "one who believes in another person because of signs has apprehension in his heart [...] and doubt."1

After learning this, I came home to read A Simple Jew's blog

"Even though the Jewish people had witnessed many wonders and miracles firsthand they still needed to have emuna. For emuna is on a higher level than sight; indeed, it enables a person to see more than the physical eye can ever observe."

(Chidushei HaRim - First Gerer Rebbe)

In today's day where Hashem is the most hidden and we must fully rely on Emuna it helps when the great Sages of our day help us relate to Hashem. May Hashem bring us to the final Exodus of this Galus to Geula, Moshiach, and the Revelation of the Emes of Hashem and his Torah.


5 comments:

Anarchist Chossid said...

We need to rely on emunah for what? To know that Eibeshter exists and gave us Torah, or to know that He is with us, all evidence to the contrary?

Both then and now, the answer is resounding no to the first one and resounding yes to the second one.

Long Beach Chasid said...

Are you disagreeing with me or the Chidushei HaRim?

I hope the answer is a resounding yes to the first one and resounding no to the second one.

Then the question is what are you disagreeing about? I didnt think I was specific enough in my post.

The emuna is certainly not that the Eibeshter exists and that the Torah is eternal. It is of course the emuna in knowing Hashem is so very close to us helping us to be good Jews when it seems he is more hiddien now than ever before.

Lars Shalom said...

angel folklore here; somehting you never knew!!

http://dadoichzlig.blogspot.com

Anonymous said...

Had you been around in the Rambam's time you would have been one of those who burnt his books. He would not recognize your version of Judaism.

Long Beach Chasid said...

Anonymous-

That logic is complete sheker and not worth discussing.