BS’D
Pirkei Avot writes (4:19), “Rabbi Yanai says: It is not in our power to explain…”
Human inventions are fascinating. Science technology has revealed amazing mysteries. Nevertheless, human beings cannot comprehend everything. Human logic cannot grasp Divine wisdom. Our minds are limited. We cannot rely on our understanding, our daat. There are questions such as ‘Why do bad things happen to good people’ that even Moshe Rabbeinu could not grasp.
Attempting to solve the unsolvable may lead us to falsehood. Eventually, after 120 years when we are not limited by our finite bodies (including our minds), we will better grasp Infinite wisdom and merit seeing the bigger picture. In the meantime, we must rely on our emuna.
Emuna begins where logic ends. Emuna is acknowledgement of the fact that we are finite and that Hashem is in total control of existence, from the smallest atom to the galaxies in space. Emuna is beyond human analysis or understanding – it involves trusting in He who we do not fully understand or sense with our physical senses and bodies.
Acknowledging that our wisdom and understanding is limited enables us to be more tolerant of others and their perspectives. Torah is multifaceted. Each person learns Torah from their own subjective viewpoint. Something that appears crystal clear to one person may be completely unclear to someone else. When confronting situations of apparent injustice, we must close our eyes and create unity with Hashem (as recited in the Shema; Hashem Elokeinu Hashem Echad). The process of stopping and turning to Hashem represents surrender to His wisdom. It acknowledges that human perception can be faulty and that our view or opinion may be wrong. Rather, we should strive to simply accept Hashem’s authority without reservation or argument.
