The Power of Emunah

Today's Dedication: יהונתן אשר יהודה בן מיכל שהמשפט כנגדו יתבטל לגמרי בקרוב מאוד The Atzei Chaim , a peirush on Chumash from the 1600s, writes a powerful explanation on the words "Vaya'amen ha'am" in Parashat Beshalach, which describe how the Jewish people believed that Hashem would take them out of Mitzrayim. He brings the Chazal: " אין ישראל ניזונין אלא בזכות האמונה " — The Jewish people are sustained only in the merit of emunah. He explains: as we know, the full reward for mitzvot is given in the next world. So how are we sustained in this world? It is through the reward we receive for our emunah , which is so powerful and precious that Hashem rewards it even in Olam HaZeh. Emunah gives a person a special zechut that can help them in their time of need. A man recently told the following story. His wife was pregnant, in her ninth month, and the baby was in a breech position. Due to her medical condition, a C-section was not a safe option, so they went to the hospital hoping the doctors could manually turn the baby. But when the doctors examined her, they were alarmed. Not only was the baby completely turned the wrong way, but the umbilical cord was wrapped around the baby's neck. Turning the baby now would be extremely risky, perhaps even impossible. The woman calmly asked everyone—including her husband—to leave the room. "I need to speak to Hashem," she said. This woman lived with genuine emunah. Ten minutes later, the doctor returned to try again. Amazingly, the baby had turned entirely on its own, in perfect position. The cord was no longer wrapped, and the doctor didn't have to do anything at all. When labor began, the birth was so easy and smooth that she didn't even have to push. Afterward, people asked her what she did during those ten minutes. All she said was: "I just had emunah in the One who runs everything." She refused to elaborate any further. A young man—we'll call him Reuven—was finishing his year of learning in yeshivah in Eretz Yisrael and preparing to fly back to America. He and four friends arranged for a driver to take them to the airport. But the driver arrived 45 minutes late. Then, as they left the city, they hit heavy traffic due to a major accident. Reuven, who had been learning about emunah for several years, calmly told his friends: "Hashem runs the world. If He wants us to make the flight, we'll make it. And if not, then it wasn't meant to be. Either way, we're in His hands. There's no reason to be upset." But the others didn't pay much attention. They began to argue—blaming the driver, the schedule, and each other. Every few minutes, more "what ifs" and frustrated comments filled the car. Reuven, though he appeared calm, admitted that he was also anxious inside. To strengthen himself, he called a Hashgachah Pratit hotline for chizuk. He invited his friends to listen, but they were too stressed. Eventually, the traffic cleared. They arrived at the airport exactly one hour and five minutes before their flight—the very last possible moment. Then came the security questions. For some reason, the officials delayed the others but let Reuven through quickly. He ran to the check-in counter. The clerk was visibly upset. "If you're not at the gate in 20 minutes," she said sharply, "you're staying in Israel." Reuven ran toward the gate, but when he reached the final security checkpoint, he was met with an enormous line. There was absolutely no way to get through in time. Reuven took a breath and reminded himself: Hashem is running everything. As he calmed himself, a member of the airport ground crew happened to notice him looking overwhelmed. He looked at Reuven's boarding pass and, without being asked, escorted him to the front of the entire line. Within two minutes, Reuven was through. But the challenge wasn't over yet. At passport control, Reuven scanned his passport at the automatic gate—but the doors didn't open. He tried again. And again. Seven times in total—but nothing. There was a manual line, but it was long. If he had to wait there, he would definitely miss the flight. Reuven turned to Hashem and whispered, "Please help me. Let the gate open." He scanned it one more time. The gate opened. By the time he reached the boarding gate, he was the only one from his group who made it. None of his friends made the flight. Despite every delay and every obstacle, Hashem carried him through. The zechut of his emunah had paved the way. Emunah is so powerful that it brings blessing not only in the next world, but in this one as well. It strengthens us when we're weak, carries us when we're stuck, and opens doors that simply shouldn't open. As the Atzei Chaim wrote, אין ישראל ניזונין אלא בזכות האמונה — the Jewish people are sustained in the merit of their Emunah..