Shabbos, Day of Emunah

Prepared for print by Rabbi Eran Feintuch

When it comes to emunah, this is the best of times and the worst of times.

Since the destruction of the Beis Hamikdash, Hashem’s Hand in the world has never been more manifest. We listen and watch in real time as Hashem demonstrates His Hashgachah over the entire globe: wars, political upheavals, earthquakes, and tsunamis. In the past, people knew little about what occurred outside their region, but today we see Hashem’s direction everywhere, steering the world toward its purpose.

But knowing so much about the world has a downside as well. We see Hashem’s Hashgachah so vividly in all the momentous events that fill the headlines that we easily lose sight of His supervision in our own lives. Someone who only sees the sun at high noon won’t detect the faint light of dawn; so too, the striking displays of Hashem’s Hashgachah make us blind to His guidance where it’s less conspicuous.

Our emunah is strong, but impersonal. The major events around us prove Hashem has a plan for the world, and for Klal Yisrael. But in the minor developments of our everyday lives, we don’t see Hashem’s plan for us. We don’t see how Hashem is guiding us, teaching us, or pushing us to grow.