[Avodah] What is Emunah?

[Yitzchok Levine]

The following is a selection from RSRH's commentary on Bereishis 15

6 He had put all his trust in God, and He counted 
this to him as an act of righteousness.

Emunah  is the essence of Judaism; but to define Emunah as “belief ” is to
empty the term of its true content. Belief is an act of the mind, sometimes
only an opinion. Every believer thinks his beliefs are true, based
on the reasoning and assurances of someone else. Nowadays, religion
is identified with belief, and belief is thought to be the essence of religion.
A religious person believes in principles that cannot be grasped
by the intellect. Thus, religion has been divorced from life and converted
into a catechism of doctrines, a system of faith-slogans, required for
admission to the hereafter.

Rather, V'he'ehmin ba Hashem means: to rely upon God,
in theory and in practice; to take strength in Him and to follow Him.

Thus, V'he'ehmin ba Hashem means to put one’s trust in God; to be in God’s hand
like clay in the potter’s hand. A mymin  casts his burden on God; God is
his Fashioner and Educator, Supporter and Guide. In short, a mymin
entrusts himself entirely to God.

Now here it says of Avraham: V'he'ehmin b'a Hashem. He had entrusted himself
completely and unconditionally to God’s direct guidance. God “led him
outside”; He raised him above the earthly reality of a natural world
bound by causality, and showed him a concrete reality that emerged
directly from the Will of God. And God said to him: “So shall your
seed be.” Israel’s creation and existence will depend directly on God —
without any premises and even against all natural 
calculations. V'he'ehmin ba Hashem:
Just as his descendants will depend on God alone, so did Avraham
precede them with this Emunah and illuminate the way for them.

Yitzchok Levine 
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