Is Believing the same as Trusting?

Friedman's Commentary on the Torah gives a great explanation concerning the concept of Trusting ADONAI in the Biblical context. The context is Exodus 14:30-31 just after the Israelites are delivered from the Egyptians by the miraculous hand of ADONAI parting the Red Sea.

That day ADONAI saved Israel from the hands of the Egyptians, and Israel saw the Egyptians lying dead on the shore. And when the Israelites saw the great power the ADONAI displayed against the Egyptians, the people feared the ADONAI and put their trust in him and in Moses his servant.

trusted. This word is also translated often as "believed" (Hebrew wayya'aminu). It does not have the meaning here that it has in later religious concepts. That is, it does not function in the sense of believing that a G-d exists. This notion of belief in does not occur in Biblical Hebrew (nor in other ancient Near Eastern languages)! In pagan religion the gods, being observable forces in nature (e.g., the sun, the sky, the storm wind), are not a matter of belief but of knowledge. So in the conception of ADONAI in Exodus, G-D becomes known; ADONAI's existence and power are a matter of knowledge, not belief. When one has seen ten plagues and a sea split and has a column of cloud and fire visible at all times, one does not ask, "Do you believe in G-D?" As the term is used in the Hebrew Bible, it means not belief in, but belief that; that is, it means that if ADONAI says He will do something one can trust that He will do it.

We can trust that ADONAI will redeem us just as He redeemed His people from Egypt and that He is returning in a similar column of cloud that was seen by the Israelites in the wilderness. May it be soon and in our days. Maran Etha! (Our Master is coming!).

Blog Format?

So, up until this point in my short blogging life I have basically ignored people's comments/questions. While I thoroughly enjoy the responses, I have yet to figure out how to appropriately continue a serious discussion through the blog format. I would love suggestions on how I could respond to people's comments to continue a particular discussion outside of "commenting" on my own blog. And possibly a blog is not the proper format for discussion, not sure. Let me know if you have any suggestions. But, until all is cleared up please continue commenting as, like every blogger, I enjoy your reactions.

One Tear, One Prayer

An excerpt from Souls on Fire by Elie Wiesel:

"Song is more precious than words, intention more important than formulas. And since it is given to every man to acquire all the powers, why despair? Why give up the fight? One tear, one prayer can change the course of events; one fragment of a melody can contain all the joy in the world, and by letting it go free, influence fate. And no elite has a monopoly on song or tears; G-D listens to the shepherd playing his flute as readily as He listens to the saint renouncing his earthly attachments. The prisoner's cravings equals the wise man's: the one, like the other, has a bearing on the essence of man.
He [this particular Rabbi] taught them to fight sadness with joy. 'The man who looks only at himself cannot but sink into despair, yet as soon as he opens his eyes to the creation around him, he will know joy.' And this joy leads to the absolute, to redemption, to G-D."

I am encouraged that one tear, one prayer does make a difference in this world and in the world to come. The L-RD sees us fighting even in our seemingly "weak little prayers." Because through this fight we are able to connect with the eternal reality of Him and His joy. There is indeed joy that follows pain. It is a joy that only originates with the eternal G-D and yet somehow is able (however often) to be experienced in one fragment of a melody. Where are our warrior poets? Who will bring heaven to the earth in song? Where is our joy? Who has this joy? Do we have this joy that leads to the absolute, to redemption, to G-D?