בס”ד
What is Emunah?
The Hebrew word Emunah is often translated as “faith”. But Emunah is not “blind faith” in the sense of merely believing that there is a G-d, without doing anything about it. Emunah is a deep awareness, an inner knowledge, that there is the One G-d, and that this G-d is the power behind all that exists.
In Sefer HaMitzvot, written by the Rambam, Emunah is taught as the first positive commandment given to the Jewish people. The commandment says:
“This is the command that He commanded us (the Jewish people) to believe in G-d. This means that we believe in the Origin and Cause of everything, that He is the power behind all that exists.” (Exodus 20:2).
This highlights that Emunah is not merely a concept but a direct command given by G-d Himself. Jews therefore have a specific commandment to believe in G-d. This commandment is found in the Torah and forms the basis for everything else in Jewish life.
Emunah and the Commandments
Emunah is the foundation upon which all other commandments are based, both the 613 Jewish commandments and the 7 Noahide commandments and her details for non-Jews. As stated Makkot 24a:
Isaiah then established the 613 mitzvot upon two, as it is stated: “So says the L-rd: Observe justice and perform righteous-ness” (Isaiah 56:1). Amos came and established the 613 mitzvot upon one, as it is stated: “So says the L-rd to the house of Israel: Seek Me and live” (Amos 5:4). … Habakkuk came and established the 613 mitzvot upon one, as it is stated: “But the righteous person shall live by his faith אֱמוּנָתוֹ / Emunah-to” (Habakkuk 2:4).
Mishneh Torah, Foundations of the Torah 1:1:
The foundation of foundations and firmest pillar of all wisdom is, To know that there is a First Being, that He caused all beings to be, and that all beings from heaven and earth, and from between them, could not be save for the truth of His Own Being.
Mishneh Torah, Foundations of the Torah 1:4:
This is as the prophet says: “But the L-rd G-d is the true G-d” (Jer. 10.10); He alone is the Truth, and no other being possesses a truth similar to His Truth, even as the Torah says: “There is none other like unto Him” (Deut. 4.39), meaning, there is no other true being, besides Him, like unto Him.
Emunah is thus the foundation of everything and enables us to understand and observe the commandments. Without Emunah, commandments are merely guidelines that we can adjust according to our personal judgment in different situations. For example, the commandment against murder could be distorted to allow euthanasia on humanitarian grounds – G-d forbid! This would be in violation of G-d’s will because His commandments clearly state that life is sacred, and only G-d has the right to take it.
The euthanasia example underscores the importance of not adapting the commandments to our personal interpretations, but rather respecting them as they were given by G-d. Emunah in G-d and His will means aligning our lives and the commandments in full accordance with His principles, not our desires or temporary circumstances.
Emunah and the Noahide Commandments
Although the seven Noahide Commandments for non-Jews do not explicitly contain a commandment to believe in G-d, there is an implicit connection. In Sefer HaChinuch Mitzvah 25 we can read that non-Jews also have to believe in G-d
| And [it – believe in G-d] is practiced in every place and at all times by males and females. | וְנוֹהֶגֶת בְּכָל מָקוֹם וּבְכָל זְמַן בִּזְכָרִים וּנְקֵבוֹת. |
And the prohibition against idolatry, one of the seven Noahide laws, implies that non-Jews must also believe in the One True G-d. Sefer HaChinuch, Mitzvah 416:
| With regard to idolatry, the entire prohibition is considered to be one commandment, and yet this one commandment has many specific details. For [Bnei Noach] share equally in the selfsame prohibition against idolatry as Israel, to the extent that they are liable in any case where a Jewish bet din would condemn an idolater [among the Jews] to death. | וכן ענין עבודה זרה כלו נחשב להם מצוה אחת ויש בה כמה וכמה פרטים, שהרי הם שוים בה לישראל לענין שחיבים בכל מה שבית דין של ישראל ממיתים עליה (שם נו ב) |
This logically implies the belief in the One G-d. The commandment to believe in the One G-d is included in the Noahide commandment that prohibits idolatry. This is based on the Oral Torah principle stated in Seifrei (Devarim 46 and Devarim 11:19): “From the negative, you infer the positive; and from the positive, the negative.1
This means that the belief in the One G-d and the rejection of idolatry are essential parts of the moral framework for both Jews and non-Jews. The seven Noahide commandments are seen as a universal foundation for ethical behavior, based on Emunah in the One True G-d.
Emunah as the Foundation for Spiritual Growth
Rabbi Nachman of Breslov2 compares Emunah to a seed that is planted in the ground. Without Emunah, the seed is unfit for growth and will rot. But a person who has Emunah is like a seed that grows and flourishes. Such a person is full of energy, optimism, and belief in both G-d and in themselves. Emunah enables us to grow, regardless of the challenges we face.
Emunah is the life force that drives our spiritual growth. Without Emunah, the commandments would merely be guidelines that we can adjust to our own will. But with Emunah, we see the commandments as undeniable directives from G-d Himself that help us draw closer to Him.
Emunah and the Fundamentals of Faith for Non-Jews
When we look at the quotes from the Mishneh Torah above, we see a clear connection with the fundamentals of faith for non-Jews as presented in The Divine Code by Rabbi Moshe Weiner. This book emphasizes that Emunah is not only essential for Jews but also for non-Jews who adhere to the seven Noahide laws. Two fundamental points from the book are:
- To know that there is a G-d, and that He created all that exists.
- To trust and have faith in G-d, which includes praying only to Him and asking Him to provide the things one needs. (The Divine Code, 4th edition, p. 33)
These principles are essentially the same as the commandment given to the Jews to believe in G-d, as described in the Torah. Belief in the One True G-d is the foundation of everything, and without this belief, we cannot truly grow or observe the commandments. Emunah is what connects us to G-d, helps us understand that everything that happens is according to His will, and gives us the strength to live according to His commandments.
Emunah and Developing a Deeper Relationship with G-d
A valuable resource for deepening Emunah is the book “Duties of the Heart” (Chovot HaLevavot) by Rabbi Bachya ibn Pakuda. This book offers practical insights on how we can strengthen our inner relationship with G-d. By meditating on G-d’s greatness and reflecting on our own place in the creation, we can deepen our Emunah. As Psalm 8:4-5 says:
| 4 When I behold Thy heavens, the work of Thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which Thou hast established; | ד כִּי-אֶרְאֶה שָׁמֶיךָ, מַעֲשֵׂה אֶצְבְּעֹתֶיךָ– יָרֵחַ וְכוֹכָבִים, אֲשֶׁר כּוֹנָנְתָּה. |
| 5 What is man, that Thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that Thou thinkest of him? | ה מָה-אֱנוֹשׁ כִּי-תִזְכְּרֶנּוּ; וּבֶן-אָדָם, כִּי תִפְקְדֶנּוּ. |
Reflecting on creation and its vast variety of forms can evoke awe and reverence for G-d. This is a way to deepen Emunah and remind ourselves of our place in this vast, beautifully ordered world. The book “Duties of the heart; Second Treatise on Examination“ is thus an excellent guide for developing Emunah and strengthening our relationship with G-d.
Strengthen Your Relationship with G-d through Emunah
To deepen our relationship with G-d, we must actively work on strengthening our Emunah. We do this not only by observing the commandments but also by opening our hearts and minds to G-d’s presence in our daily lives. May we all strive for a deeper Emunah, so that we can lead a richer, more fulfilled life, knowing that everything we experience is part of His goodness.
Video: R’ Sholom Mordechai Rubashkin’s miraculous release from prison was an end to an injustice and the beginning of a new era of Emunah and Bitachon. Since then, he has dedicated his life to sharing the clarity we all so admired and teaching all who want to learn how to apply Emunah and Bitachon in our lives practically. The need is so great that he is raising funds so he can host more people at his Shiurim, Shabbatons, and seminars. This song was composed not only to help with this worthy campaign, but to celebrate his miracle, acknowledge his dedication, and help spread the message of Aleph Beis Gimmel – Emunah and Bitachon will bring us each the Geulah we need. Make the time to grow in your own Emunah and Bitachon and help R’ Sholom Mordechai the means to help others at https://alephbeisgimmel.com/Campaign/ Aleph, Beis, Gimmel! Credits: Performed by: Benny Friedman Produced by: Doni Gross & Yitzy Waldner Composed by: Yitzy Waldner Lyrics by: Getzel Rubashkin Musical Production: Doni Gross Recorded at: DeG Studios, NYC Video by: Getzel Rubashkin Benny PR: I & Me Media
By Angelique Sijbolts
With thanks to B. Yaniger for the inspiration
With thanks to Rabbi Tuvia Serber for his feedback
Sources:
- Seifrei Devarim 46 on Devarim 11:19; see The Divine Code by Rabbi Moshe Weiner, Part I, topic 1:5. ↩︎
- Jewish Laws and Thoughtskeyboard_arrow_right Foundations of Faith ↩︎
See also the blog:
FUNDAMENTALS OF THE FAITH 1 – THE FOUNDATION OF BELIEF IN ONE G-D
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