Leap of
Faith
Parshas Beshalach
Posted on January 27, 2021 (5781) By Rabbi
Mordechai Kamenetzky | Series: Drasha| Level: Beginner
A defining moment of
Jewish faith takes place on the shores of the Yam Suf, the Reed Sea, as the
fleeing, fledgling nation is cornered into a quick and fateful decision.
Trapped between raging waters and a raging Egyptian army, the nation had but
few choices to make. Some froze in fright. Others wanted to run back to Egypt
straight into the hands of their former tormentors.
Others just prayed. Still
others wanted to wage war against the former taskmasters. But one group, led by
Nachshon ben Aminadav forged ahead. Replacing fear with
faith, he plunged into the sea. Only then did the sea split and the Jews cross.
The Egyptians pursued. The waters returned, and the enemy was left bobbing in a
sea of futility, totally vanquished under the turbulent waters. In defining
that moment of faith, the Torah tells us,” Israel saw the great hand that Hashem inflicted upon Egypt; and the people
revered Hashem, and they had faith in Hashem and in Moses, His servant” (Exodus
14:31). The strange connection between faith in Hashem and Moshe His servant needs clarification. What is
the minor role of the servant in relationship to the great role of faith in the
Almighty?
After hearing a fiery
speech about the meaning of faith, a disciple of Rabbi Yisrael Salanter
approached him and asked, “Rebbe, are you telling me that if I have perfect
faith in Hashem, He will provide me with all my needs?”
Rabbi Salanter affirmed.
“Yes, my son,” he smiled. “If one has perfect faith in the Almighty, He will
provide for him.” The man mad a quick reposte. “Good, if that is the case I
need no longer work. I will sit and study Torah and rely solely on my faith,
and the 20,000 rubles that I’ll need to survive will come to me in full as if
it were manna from Heaven!” The man went home and began to study Torah.
But after one week when
the money did not appear he returned to the Rabbi to complain. “I have the
faith you claimed to need, and so far no money has arrived!”
Rabbi Yisrael was pensive.
“I’ll tell you what,” he said. “I will offer you 8,000 rubles cash today if you
would commit yourself to give me the 20,000 rubles that you are sure will come
to you because of your faith.” The man jumped from his chair. “8,000 rubles!
Sure! I’ll take it.” Rabbi Yisrael Salanter smiled, “who in his right mind
would give up 20,000 rubles for a mere 8,000 rubles? Only someone with does not
have perfect faith that he will receive 20,000 rubles! If one is positive that
he is about to receive 20,000 rules, and is absolutely confident that it is
coming, he would not, in his right mind, give it up for a mere 8,000! Obviously
you have more faith in my 8,000 rubles then in Hashem’s 20,000!”
The Torah tells us that
the nation feared G-d, and it believed in Moshe, His
servant. Notice that the first and foremost belief is in the Almighty. That
immortal faith is the springboard for faith in all the mortal messengers, who
are only vehicles of His command.
Normally, more or less,
man believes in man much faster then he believes in G-d. On a hot
tip, people throw thousands at the market. Ominous predictions of economic
forecasters send us into panic. On a doctor’s dire prognosis, we react with
despair. We forget that the source of faith is in the Almighty. Only then can
we believe in his messengers.
Rabbi Yeruchom Levovitz,
z”l, the Mashgiach of the Mirrer Yeshiva explains that the Jews at the sea
reached the highest level of faith. Their following of Moshe was not
in any sense due to his charisma or prior leadership. It was due to a total
subjugation to a faith in an immortal Hashem. Only
then did they follow the lead of a Moshe. That
is the faith of those who take the leap. It is a faith they would not trade or
deal for any offer in the world.
Dedicated by Michael &
Rikki Charnowitz in memory of Ephraim Spinner Liluy Nishmas Ephraim
Yitzchok ben R’ Avraham —
17 Shevat
Copyright © 2001
by Rabbi M. Kamenetzky and Project Genesis, Inc.
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