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Faith, Intellect, Wisdom


Based on letters and talks of the Rebbe, Rabbi M. M. Schneerson

Faith believes that which it is told, because it wants to believe.

Intellect believes that which it understands, because it wants to attain understanding.

Wisdom believes that which is true, because it is true.

It doesn’t have to fit that which faith wishes to believe. It doesn’t await the approval of intellect to say, “This can be understood.”

Wisdom is clear vision, the power to see “that which is” without attempting to fit it into any mold. Wisdom, therefore, is the only channel by which an Infinite G‑d may enter.
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Based on letters and talks of the Rebbe, Rabbi M. M. Schneerson   More articles...  |   RSS Listing of Newest Articles by this Author

From the wisdom of the Lubavitcher Rebbe, of righteous memory; words and condensation by Rabbi Tzvi Freeman. To order Rabbi Freeman’s book, Bringing Heaven Down to Earth, click here.

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Reader Comments
Latest Comments:
Posted: Mar 28, 2012
To Michael
Yes, Gd can do anything, but, as the Alter Rebbe says in Tanya, He "wants", (rather than 'may') enter into the world only through what is subservient to H-m. This subservience is the power, the substance, of Chochma (koach ma), loosely translated as wisdom.

Though I don't understand why Rabbi excluded faith as a path of Gd's dwelling in our world. The Rebbe Rashab, who's yahrzeit was beis nisan, gave us 'Ayin Beis' which says plenty about faith. Of course, 'faith' is also a worldly term. We're not talking about the faith of folly. When we say faith, we mean what is the real faith. We're talking about a very deep part of the soul that is one with G-d. I wonder if the Rabbi would comment on 'pnimius atik, pnimius Abba'. The internal (part of) faith is identical to the internal of chochma. And thus faith is essential to G-d's presence in our world, and in fact, I think, a prerequisite (Rambam). As well, "that which it is told"? Yes, if Gd is the speaker.
Posted By chuna, brooklyn

Posted: Mar 28, 2012
Wisdom - the WHOLE picture
The revelation of wisdom is gifted from the Light of Hochma. Its power strikes like a bolt of lightening to shift our perception to the true, complete picture.

Many scientists were given the 'out-of-the-box' answer in this way - for example - the benzene ring carbon structure, the laser, etc. - then they were able to figure the logic to explain the phenomenon.
Posted By Brenda, Toronto, Canada

Posted: Mar 28, 2012
faith, intellect, wisdom
Unfortunately, I do not think this is true. In my years I have learned that there is an intellectual life concerned with discovering truth using scientific method; faith that is reasonable and faith that is unreasonable; and wisdom that only the perspective of mature hindsight can give. These definitions differ from the ones you used, but it is your conclusion that is the most disconcerting- saying that wisdom is the only channel through which an infinite Gd will enter limits Him, obviously contradictory to His nature as infinite.
Posted By Michael Davis, New York, NY

Posted: Jan 12, 2010
Fuzzy Logic
And because the world cannot pin it down in categories, it transcends the world and cannot be misused.

I love it that true Torah cannot ever be used to make money or to beget power. It is always some distortion of it that manages to become a channel of evil.

Wisdom is nuanced it cannot be taught and yet somehow we all recognize it. I recognize it here.
Posted By cecilia beltran

Posted: Jan 12, 2010
blessing and love reflected
i thank you for this lesson, shalom
Posted By shel, UK



 


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