פרשת ויחי
In this week’s parsha, Yaakov Avinu summons all his sons to bless them before he dies. The Midrash in Breishis Rabba 98:3 says that before Yaakov blessed the brothers, he questioned them about their relationship with Hashem. “Perhaps you may have a machlokes with Hashem?” Yaakov prodded. To this, the brothers answered: “Hear Yisrael, the Lord is our G-d, the Lord is One.” The Midrash concludes by saying that from that moment on, the Jewish people became accustomed to reciting this affirmation of belief every morning and night. However, how could Yaakov accuse his sons of possibly having a machlokes with Hashem? All the brothers were righteous and rich in the knowledge of G-d. Why did Yaakov think that they had problems in emuna?
The Ramchal writes in Daas Tevunos that for the average person who is interested in truth, belief in Hashem is quite simple. To believe that the world was brought into existence by an Infinite, All-Powerful, All-Knowing G-d is readily comprehensible for anyone who takes a moment to appreciate the impossibility of our finite universe willing itself into being ex nihilo. However, the actual concept of Hashem’s Unity is much more difficult even for the observant investigator of creation. To believe that it is Hashem who runs the world and everything in our universe is just a different permutation of One Divine Will is challenging in light of the picture the world seems to present to us. When looking at the ways of the world, one does not readily see the harmony of the universe, with everything running on the same course, guided by One Creator. One sees a diverse world that has multiple systems, many at odds with each other. It seems that everything runs its own course. To come to an understanding that all worldly phenomena, such as hurricanes, thunder, ultra-violet rays, baseball games, ice-cream cones, totalitarian governments, darkness, electricity, printing presses, matzoh ball soup, etc., are all part of one master plan by One G-d with one goal for creation is something that requires work to integrate into one’s consciousness. Moreover, things seem to run by themselves. Medicine, for example, appears to work independent of G-d. Success in business also seems to work similarly. It seems that instead of Hashem providing us with an income, we “make money.” However, to believe in the Unity of Hashem is to believe that everything comes from One Source. Nothing has its own power. Everything is from Hashem. This is the pillar of faith that Yaakov wanted to be sure was impressed on his sons. Did they truly relate to everything in their lives as coming directly from Hashem? Or did they attribute power to things outside of Hashem, has v’shalom? This is what Yaakov Avinu meant when he asked the brothers if they had “any machlokes with Hashem.” To even subconsciously attribute success or failure to entities separate from Hashem is equivalent to denying the essence of Hashem altogether. This is the challenge of every Jew. To be able to see Hashem’s hand in everything and openly attribute every event in one’s life to One G-d is one of the fundamentals of a Jew’s existence.
Integrating this outlook on life is difficult for sure. How can we work on it? Rav Yerucham Levovitz, the Mashgiach of Mir Yeshiva, teaches a fundamental principle that applies to nearly every matter. The principle is as follows: Whenever one comes to a particularly challenging topic, one should review other related and more readily understood concepts to illuminate the matter at hand. I believe that we can apply this principle to the Shema itself as a means of strengthening our belief in G-d’s Unity. “Hear Yisrael, the Lord is our G-d, the Lord is One.” Hashem is our G-d! The more we appreciate Hashem’s power and that He has the ability to do whatever He wants, the more we can appreciate Hashem’s Oneness as well. Hashem created the entire universe! Every solar system and star is powered by G-d. Volcanoes, waterfalls, earthquakes, gravitational pulls, etc., all stem from Hashem’s might. It is Hashem who took us out of Egypt and facilitated the miraculous survival of the Jewish people throughout the last few thousand years. Hashem fashioned our bodies into entities that could contain our souls and these vessels function non-stop throughout our lives. Furthermore, every single thing we have is just something G-d made. Every person, no matter how great, is also just a mere creation like we are. Hashem isn’t only the creator of everything. He is the inventor of the very concept of everything. The more we contemplate and appreciate the grandeur of Hashem, the more we come to feel that Hashem is in charge of everything. Then we can say Hashem is One with a full heart.
There is a famous story of Rav Chaim Volozhin trying to mekarev a young man who was somewhat estranged from his Jewish heritage. During the course of their discussion Rav Chaim delved into the subject of G-d’s Unity, explaining to the young man that this fundamental principle of faith dictated that nothing has inherent power. Even the laws of nature are just an extension of Hashem’s will. Theoretically, Rav Chaim declared, Hashem could override these rules as well. This particular comment didn’t sit well with the young man, who daringly dismissed Rav Chaim, asserting that if he threw a glass cup down on a table, the glass would break whether Hashem willed it or not. Rav Chaim Volozhin, possessing ruach hakodesh, sensed that in this particular case, Hashem was willing to accept the young man’s challenge and demonstrate this eternal truth in front of his very eyes. “Just try to break it,” smiled Rav Chaim. The young man, unperturbed by Rav Chaim’s unnerving certainty, laughed at Rav Chaim, casually taking the cup and smashing it onto the table. However, nothing happened. The young man, somewhat embarrassed, remarked “Oh. I just didn’t do it hard enough.” The young man then stretched back his arm, whirling the cup downwards with all his strength. However, this time also the glass didn’t break. It just rolled on the floor. The young man then took a hard rock and slammed it onto the cup, but again nothing happened. “You see,” said Rav Chaim, “The entire universe is in the hands of HaKadosh Baruch Hu.”
May we all be zoche to feel Hashem’s Oneness!!!