BS’D
Today’s daily dose is dedicated to the refuah shleimah of Bracha Miriam Tova bat Rochel who is struggling with breast cancer. The suffering is so great, and these times are so uncertain. We just don’t know what will be at any given moment. However, we must stay strong. Hashem is with us and will not leave until every one of His children is redeemed emotionally and physically. May it come soon b’rachamim, Amen.
Ein OD Milvado (there is no other than Hashem) is commonly said in the circles of Jewish people. How close are we to understanding its deep meaning? Upon further examination, we will find that this is the founding principle of emuna and thus very important to explore.
The brachot and tefillot are but tools to ingrain the fact that even when a leaf falls off a tree it was decreed that it fall and none other. The main theme of emuna is to dismiss any possibility of coincidence or that intervention by another was the cause of an event. This is what is termed the mitzvah of emunat hayichud (the belief in One).
The Ramchal ztk’l illuminates this idea. He writes that we must believe that Hashem is in full control and that natural law is dependent on His will. Hashem is not forced to act in sync with nature, the law that He instituted, unless He chooses to do so.
Hashem responds according to our deeds. To clarify, if we place our full-blown trust in Hashem, not just partially, then Hashem will fully safeguard us. As a shadow reflects the person’s movement, so does Hashem, so to speak, reflect our actions.
In our current generation, it is essential to strengthen ourselves with emuna. Hashem is with us and will never leave us for we are His children. Without this train of thought, we could not possibly go through the anguish we are experiencing in our times. There is no other reality but one: All is directed by the Borei Olam. Rabbi Chaim m’Volozhin ztk’l teaches that by continuously reminding ourselves of this truth, we shield ourselves and the decrees are sweetened.
The purpose of creation is to reveal Hashem’s presence, the belief that Hashem is the One and only One. With each nisayon, we inch closer to the time when a new reality will set in for all to see as we say in the tefilla of Aleinu: “…v’Haya Hashem l’Melech al kol ha’aretz bayom hahu yihiyeh Hashem echad u’Shmo echad.”
