Faith is Emunah,
what you believe, while Halacha means how you walk
or conduct yourself in practice of what you believe.
We do the things we do because we are what we are.
A man will practice what he believes. If he professes
to believe in righteousness, but practices unrighteousness,
he is a practical, practicing atheist. “Noah
was a righteous man in his generation.” “Noah
walked with G-d.” “Noah found grace in
the eyes of G-d” (Genesis 5:8, 6:9).
(1) It is a commandment
(mitzvah) for a human being to believe that there
is a creator of the universe, that He is Eternal,
the First and Last of everything. He is One, and there
is no unity comparable to his or G-d outside Him.
His unity cannot be multiplied or divided. He is exclusive
in his unity, and there is no other like Him in the
universe. There is none other or any other sources
that have His power or His capability. All the sources
of power and energy in the universe stem and come
from Him.
(2) It is a commandment
for a human being to study his belief, and to observe
the creation to see and to recognize His greatness.
It is written in Isaiah chapter 40, “Lift up
your eyes and see Who created these.” Similarly
he should study history to observe what has happened
in time past and present: It is also commanded to
observe what has happened in history to see how G-d
has been in charge and the One who rules over all
events. “Remember the days of old, consider
the years of many generations. Ask thy father, and
he will show thee; thy elders, and they will tell
thee. When the Most High divided to the nations their
inheritance, when he separated the sons of Adam, he
set the bounds of the people according to the number
of the children of Israel. For the L-RD’s portion
is His people; Jacob is the lot of his inheritance”
(Deuteronomy 32:7-9). “Remember the former things
of old; for I am G-d, and there is none else; I am
G-d and there is none like me, Declaring the end from
the beginning, and from ancient times the things that
are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand,
and I will do all my pleasure” (Isaiah 46:10-11).
Israel was created by G-d to receive the Torah and
give the prophets to a pagan world that had many thousands
of gods. Israel’s unique prophetic character
is different and separates Israel from all other nations.
Israel is the only nation on earth whose entire history
was written before it happened. The Jews’ mission
against a polytheistic world has had an unbelievable
impact against polytheism. Even the atheists say,
“There is no G-d.” They do not say, “There
are no gods.”
(3) It is appropriate
to say aloud what you believe in order to strengthen
the conviction in your heart. For example: There is
one G-d and His name is One. (Zech. 14:9). There can
be no compromise on pronouncing aloud this belief.
The Torah concept of G-d does not allow him to have
a split personality. It is worthwhile to say different
basic concepts of belief toward the one true G-d loudly
and clearly, such as the affirmation (Shema Yisrael)
“Hear O Israel…” Here are other
sentences that are worthwhile repeating at regular
intervals, since they are among the basics of belief:
• I believe
with a complete belief that the Creator, blessed
be His Name, He alone, created and made all the
created things. He alone made, is making and will
continue to make all things.
• He is One,
and there is none other like Him, in no way or manner.
He alone is our L-rd in the past, present, and future.
• He does
not have body. Nobody can be like Him, and no imagination
can detail or describe Him. No picture can depict
Him; no image can portray Him. No material can contain
His essence. No wood, no stone, no plant, no star
nor constellation can be compared to Him.
• G-d is
first and last. Of no man can this be said.
• To G-d and G-d alone we
should pray (meaning that no use at all of any mediator
should be made in a prayer between man and G-d).
• G-d knows
all the thoughts and actions of a person. He pays
good wages to those who do good while punishing
those who do evil. The most significant compensation
will be in the next world (after death). There will
also be worldwide compensation with the coming of
the Messiah. After that, there will be a resurrection
of the dead.
• G-d gave
the Torah to the Jewish people so that they bring
merit to all of humanity. This Torah has never changed
and will never be changed. Part of this Torah was
given to the whole human race. Another part of the
Torah was given only to the Israelites. (Every human
being can join and be part of Judaism by conversion,
but a person is not obligated to do so.) If a person
fulfills the commandments of a son or daughter of
Noah, then that person will have a part in the world
to come.
