Is Hashem ‘So Far Away’?
Learning tanach every day in school, we are bound to come across perushim that discuss G-d’s presence in our lives, or hashkacha pratis. I can recall more than one class in which my fellow classmates and myself have tried to grasp different opinions of scholars. Some argue that G-d is a major force that directly can alter our fate and controls every seemingly insignificant detail of this world, while others think of Hashem as an over-encompassing power who simply supervises the laws of nature.
Moreover, it is personally difficult to think of Hashem as being unaffiliated with my life and me personally, since I know that there was once a time that Hashem’s presence in an individual’s life was blatantly conceivable, namely up until the destruction of the second Beit Hamikdash. I think it is also harder to have a personal connection with Hashem through tefilah if we believe that we are only davening as an exercise purely for self-reflection because of the notion that Hashem doesn’t listen to our tefilot as He is a transcendent presence.
The line of “Karov Hashem” from Ashrei gave me some convincing proof that Hashem can truly have a personal connection to us and at times be our own personal G-d.
When you call out to someone, it means that you believe that they are there to hear you. Although the person I call out to might choose not to answer my call, I still know that they will at least hear what I am saying. They are a presence that I know is close enough to hear my call.
What I think this line of Ashrei is saying is that once I acknowledge Hashem’s direct presence is in my life by calling out to Him, He will always be there to listen to me. The verse in Ashrei adds that the person who Hashem is close to must call out to Him truthfully. While I may call out to someone, my cries may be said in vain, meaning I know that truthfully, the thing or person I call out to does not really exist. I can call out to Hashem, but deep down I may not truly believe that His presence exists in my life. Perhaps, then, this verse contains one of the many intrinsic tenets of Judaism. As Jews, our faith in Hashem’s ability to hear our prayers and perform miracles for us is the underlying foundation that keeps us connected to Him. Even though Judaism is a logical and understandable religion, there are certain aspects of it and our faith in Hashem being somewhat involved in our lives that affirm our belief in Torah uMitzvot.
So in conclusion, this short verse sums up an important facet of Jewish faith. It also gives us the promise that once we believe that Hashem is there to listen to us, He will truly be there. It is our choice to believe whether or not Hashem is a transcendental or imminent G-d, but I think this verse affirms that our beliefs can become reality.
Learning tanach every day in school, we are bound to come across perushim that discuss G-d’s presence in our lives, or hashkacha pratis. I can recall more than one class in which my fellow classmates and myself have tried to grasp different opinions of scholars. Some argue that G-d is a major force that directly can alter our fate and controls every seemingly insignificant detail of this world, while others think of Hashem as an over-encompassing power who simply supervises the laws of nature.
Moreover, it is personally difficult to think of Hashem as being unaffiliated with my life and me personally, since I know that there was once a time that Hashem’s presence in an individual’s life was blatantly conceivable, namely up until the destruction of the second Beit Hamikdash. I think it is also harder to have a personal connection with Hashem through tefilah if we believe that we are only davening as an exercise purely for self-reflection because of the notion that Hashem doesn’t listen to our tefilot as He is a transcendent presence.
The line of “Karov Hashem” from Ashrei gave me some convincing proof that Hashem can truly have a personal connection to us and at times be our own personal G-d.
When you call out to someone, it means that you believe that they are there to hear you. Although the person I call out to might choose not to answer my call, I still know that they will at least hear what I am saying. They are a presence that I know is close enough to hear my call.
What I think this line of Ashrei is saying is that once I acknowledge Hashem’s direct presence is in my life by calling out to Him, He will always be there to listen to me. The verse in Ashrei adds that the person who Hashem is close to must call out to Him truthfully. While I may call out to someone, my cries may be said in vain, meaning I know that truthfully, the thing or person I call out to does not really exist. I can call out to Hashem, but deep down I may not truly believe that His presence exists in my life. Perhaps, then, this verse contains one of the many intrinsic tenets of Judaism. As Jews, our faith in Hashem’s ability to hear our prayers and perform miracles for us is the underlying foundation that keeps us connected to Him. Even though Judaism is a logical and understandable religion, there are certain aspects of it and our faith in Hashem being somewhat involved in our lives that affirm our belief in Torah uMitzvot.
So in conclusion, this short verse sums up an important facet of Jewish faith. It also gives us the promise that once we believe that Hashem is there to listen to us, He will truly be there. It is our choice to believe whether or not Hashem is a transcendental or imminent G-d, but I think this verse affirms that our beliefs can become reality.
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