FAITH ON WINGS OF EAGLES

Emunah Al Kanfei N'sharim

The airplane today is a marvel of science. Yet, aerodynamics play little role in the trust most of us place in entering the behemoth knowing that we will almost certainly reach our destination, whether it be Cleveland or Bruxelles. As I fly over the Atlantic, I believe it is a more compelling trust; our faith in God. I remember reading in the Jewish Catalogue (a much more reliable compendium than Wikipedia, say) that man asks, "Why do I need to pray? I have all I need..." The answer given is simplistic and profound. We should pray so that when we need to, we will know how. The same reason can be given for study.

In trying to make sense of our role in the ongoing saga of human history, our sages have long toiled on establishing our relationship with God. The Orthodox Jew speaks about "Torah Moshe miSinai" and that relationship is based on the faith that the Torah is God given and there can be no question about who God is. The Torah tells us, exactly. But, since the Haskalah (Enlightenment) period, the study of Biblical literary criticism has raised many unanswered questions and put "modern man" in a quandry. Weekly, we hear why one must have faith; often coming from different sources with new paths toward that faith. We must all find our own way through continued study of Torah and its myriad commentaries, joyfull and reflective prayer, and the leadership of so many brilliant minds that have dedicated themselves to philosophic discourse and a combining of our ancient and modern texts in continuing our path to faith. Find an adult education course and open yourself to so much more than the mundane "vochedik" (weekday/common) thoughts that hardly tax our miraculous brains.

You may find it easier to fly accross the pond.