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 made a quick riposte. “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 than 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

Guaranteed Results!

Parshas Beshalach

Posted on January 14, 2011 (5771) By Rabbi Label Lam | Series: Dvar Torah| Level: Beginner

 

HASHEM said to Moshe, “Why do you cry out to Me? Speak to the Children of Israel and let them journey! And you lift up your staff and stretch out your arm over the sea and split it and the Children of Israel shall come into the midst of the sea on the dry land…” (Shemos 14:15-16)

 

It happened that when Moshe would raise his hand Israel was stronger, and when he lowered his hand Amalek was stronger. (Shemos 17:11)

 

Was it Moshe’s hand that won the battle or lost the battle? Rather {the Torah teaches you}: As long as Israel looked heavenward and subjected their heart to their Father in Heaven, they would prevail; but when they did not, they would fall. (Rosh HaShana 29A)

 

It looks like there’s a mixed message in these two accounts. On the one hand by the sea, Moshe is told, in other words, “It’s not a time for prayer, it’s a time for action!” In this war versus Amalek we are told the battle is not in Moshe’s hand or in the activity of the Children of Israel but rather in the direction of the eyes and hearts of Israel. So, which it it? Is it praying or is it doing that wins the day?

 

A man was forced by economic circumstances to emigrate to France. He was looking to reestablish himself in business so he approached Baron Rothschild and requested a loan of 500 Francs. Baron Rothschild answered him, “The policy of House of Rothschild is not to grant a loan without a guarantor!” The same fellow returned awhile later and begged more urgently for a loan to start his business and feed his family. The Baron gave the same standard answer, “The policy of the House of Rothschild is not to grant a loan without a guarantor!” Weeks passed by and the fellow was approaching starvation. He pleaded his case to the Baron again only to receive the same answer.

 

Soon afterward the same man came back to the Baron Rothschild with a paper in his hand. This time he told the Baron that he had a guarantor. The Baron unfolded the request document and scanned the page in search of the identity of the one backing the loan and there in bold print was scripted the name of the “The Almighty!” Without hesitation the Baron granted him a six month loan of 500 hundred Francs.

 

Six months later the man returned to the office of the Baron Rothschild and with great pride presented him with the sum of 500 Francs in repayment of the loan. The Baron refused to accept the money and when the man insisted the Baron Rothschild told him, “You do not have to repay this loan. The guarantor has repaid the loan many times over!”

 

What’s more crucial praying or doing? The answer is, “Both!” Doing with an attachment to G-d yields a far superior result than doing alone. Prayer alone is deficient when there is action to be taken. The combination is more powerful than weight of the sea or the ferocity of a mortal enemy. King Solomon had said in Mishlei (21:31) The horse is readied, for the day of war but salvation is HASHEM’s! Whether in business or military ops or any of life’s many emergencies only one strategy can offer us guaranteed results! 

 

DvarTorah, Copyright © 2007 by Rabbi Label Lam and Torah.org.