Belief

Dear Rabbi, I’m a 35-year old Jewish man with a very large hole in his heart. I was raised a Jew and still think of myself as a Jew. But I really don't know what it is to be a Jew. I went to Hebrew school and was Bar Mitzvah’ed. But for some reason I’m having trouble accepting faith in our religion. Where do I turn when the bottom drops out? Who do I talk to for answers that will sooth my soul? Can you offer suggestions? Thank you!

If God promises Abraham about Isaac and his offspring.... and God MADE Abraham believe strongly in that promises... So, wouldn't it be be an obvious mistake after that to test Abraham to sacrifice Isaac?! You see the contradiction? It is one of two: sacrification or making hopes in Isaac!

Do miracles visible to us that clearly and openly defy the laws of science really occur today? You might think I’m crazy. But I think I might have experienced one. You see, I am not much a follower of religion or one who prays a lot, just one who knows I’m Jewish and attends high holiday services. A few months ago, I was on a business trip. I driving down a rural road in West Virginia, far from civilization, when I realized I had forgotten about my gas tank. I realized it was nearly empty. I suddenly panicked. And I did something I rarely do. I prayed that I would have enough fuel to make it to the next gas station. I was barely finished with my brief prayer when, lo and behold, a service station appeared on the side of the road. I quickly pulled in, relieved. The station had no familiar brand name on it. It was mostly a place that fixed cars and had two gas pumps. And a small store in a room where the cashier’s desk was found that sold snacks. I paid in this room with a credit card, filled my tank, and moved on with my journey. Two days later, I was driving home the same route with plenty of fuel in the tank when I was passing the same familiar spot. I had been hungry for a while and I thought I would stop at the same station for a snack. I pulled in to the lot, and to my dismay, the place was closed. Upon closer examination, it looked like the place had been abandoned. Unlike when I was there before, the building seemed to be in major disrepair with broken windows, rotting wood, and a caved in roof! And the pavement looked like it had been long neglected, unlike it was the day before. Across the street was a house on which an old man was sitting on the porch. I asked the man about the service station. He said it hadn’t been in business for the past 12 years! I told him I had just been there the other day. He thought maybe I was mistaken. But I know it had to be the same one because of the familiar surroundings, including this old man’s distinctive house and the lack of any service station of any type along the portion of that route I took in both directions. Even more astonishing, on my credit card statement, there is no record of the transaction I made and I evidently got the gasoline for free! Could it really be possible that I experienced a miracle that defies all logic?

I am a Jewish college student and wonder: Why do we believe that there is a God?

I always have questions about Hashem even though I grew up frum. Whenever I read Stories of emuna and bituchon I cringe. I read enough hashkafa already and I still don't understand. I am in therapy for childhood abuse so I know my questions make sense. But still, do I have hope that one day I will understand that I don't have to understand? How can I read articles without feeling pain and resistance to every word that connects to God?

Today, there are great increase of atheism among youth, especially in the developed nations. In America, Europe, and North East Asia, atheism is gaining big amounts of followers. How about Jewish young people? Is atheism growing rapidly, just like in the most of the developed world? Or, is Judaism firmly established among Jewish youth?