What is Faith?

Question

Dear Rabbi, I’d like to learn more about the concept of faith according to Judaism. Would you please point me in the right direction to better help me understand this topic? Thanks!

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Answers

  1. The Just Ask! - AskTheRabbi.org Team

    In my experience, people in previous generations had an innate faith in God. They had it from within themselves, from family and community life and from basic knowledge of the history of the Jewish People’s relationship with God. They didn’t really need to study about it in school or from textbooks. However, the present generation, by the large seems to be lacking in this pure, simple and complete faith in God. It is often seen as more difficult to obtain, and many people feel a need to study in order to understand what faith in God means, and to hopefully strengthen their faith in God.

    Here is a list of resources that I highly suggest checking out. The list is not complete, of course, but it is the result of much research from the Gateways Ask the Rabbi staff. uggest the following books to strengthen your faith. I hope you find them helpful.

     V’Higadeta – R’ Yaakov Galinsky – Israel Bookshop
     Nefesh Shimshon, Gates of Emuna – R’ Shimshon Pincus – Feldheim
     Pirkei Machshava, Thoughts for a Jewish Heart – R’ Ezriel Tauger – Shalheves
     Meam Loez on Parsha and Nach
     Trust Me, An Anthology of Emunah – R’ Eliezer Parkoff – Feldheim
     Wings of Faith – R’ Yosef Tropper – Feldheim
     In All Your Ways, A Guide to Avodas Hashem – R’ Yaakov Meir Shechter – Yesod

    I hope you find what you are looking for while reading one or more of these resources. In addition, I suggest checking the Gateways online resources, which are frequently updated and contain invaluable information on a multitude of topics of Jewish interest, including faith. The speaker I am most familiar with is Rabbi Mordechai Becher (whose educational talks can also be found on YouTube), but I have great faith that the teachings of all of the Gateways staff is top-notch and worthwhile having a serious look at.

    Good luck and I wish you much happiness and success.

    Best wishes from the AskTheRabbi.org Team