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BS’D

We left off yesterday with the understanding that emuna is the force that limits one’s intellect. We are driven to discover the purpose of living, yet the human mind is limited. Therefore we were given the gift of emuna, a higher level of wisdom which enables us to come closer to Hashem and discover the purpose of life.

By G-dly design Hashem limited human intellect so that we not understand His ways. Were we to grasp His essence, existence as we know would cease to exist. Consequently free will would be removed and all of creation would fold into His Oneness, since all is Hashem and Hashem is all. Nonetheless, Hashem has given each of us a ray of His G-dliness so that we may slowly unveil it to shine on creation through involvement in Torah study, mitzvot and good deeds.

This point of inner truth is felt by every Jew; some feel it always, some feel it rarely. Hashem planted this one pure point in the heart of every Jew and it is from this place that we build our emuna. When intellect reaches a stumbling block emuna automatically takes over.  By virtue of free will we are given a choice on how we respond to that emuna voice. What will our response be when our emuna says, ‘Remember, there is a Hashem’.

Emuna questions but also provides answers. Emuna is a heartfelt thirst to know and asks ‘Why am I here?’ Yet at the same time emuna provides the answer by reminding us of our souls existence. As suggested in yesterday’s lesson emuna is likened to earthiness. Aretz (earth) is associated with the word ratzon (one’s desire, thirst to know Hashem). The ground yearns to grow and produce; emuna drives us to search true meaning.

Emuna bonds us to G-dly knowledge above and beyond what the human mind can ever grasp.