Where is G‑d?

Question:

I have difficulty understanding G‑d's presence in the world. First, I heard that there is a specific place there where the spiritual is connected to the physical in a way that does not happen anywhere else in the world: Jerusalem. I then read that every time someone does a good deed G‑d's presence in the world is somehow more clear. And lastly I heard that G‑d is everywhere; meaning that He is in the synagogue, in the Yeshiva, in the kitchen, in the street, etc.

I don't understand how these three concepts work together; they seem to contradict each other. Can you help me, please?

Answer:

Maybe I can help with this little analogy: When a radio station broadcasts, it sends radio waves through the air. Some stations send out stronger signals, some send out weaker signals. We are always surrounded and bombarded with radio waves. So why aren't we deaf from all the noise? Because we can't hear the sounds unless we have a radio which is tuned to the proper frequency.

G‑d's presence is not only everywhere but within everything. G‑d's name – Y-H-V-H – is a contraction of the Hebrew words for "was," "is," and "will be," because He is the G‑d of creation, and G‑d's constant presence is what perpetually keeps all of creation in existence.

However, just like our ears don't hear radio waves, we generally do not sense G‑d's presence in this world. But when a mitzvah is done, this "strengthens" the signal of G‑d's presence and fine tunes our receptors, making us more aware of it. In a place where many mitzvot are done—for instance, in a synagogue or a yeshiva, it is much easier to sense G‑d's presence in the world. Similarly, when a home has a mezuzah on the door, Jewish books throughout the house, a kosher kitchen, etc.—we are more aware of G‑d's presence there. And since Jerusalem is the holiest city in the world – because He chose it to be the location for the Holy Temple, and because so many mitzvot have been and continue to be performed there – G‑d's presence is so much clearer there and it is easier to connect to Him.

If, G‑d forbid, someone does a negative deed, thereby implicitly proclaiming that there is no G‑d, then the signal of G‑d's presence becomes more faint and harder for us to pick up...

Chaya Sarah Silberberg,
Chabad.org