Printed from Chabad.org
Contact Us
Visit us on Facebook
Meet the new Chabad.org
Switch to OLD version

38. The Creator of Logic

Print
E-mail

G‑d can do anything. He could even, as the Talmud puts it, “fit an elephant through the eye of a needle.”

So, how would He do it? Would He make the elephant smaller? Or would He expand the eye of the needle?

Neither. The elephant would remain big, the eye of the needle small. And He would fit the elephant through the eye of the needle.

Illogical? True. But logic is just another of His creations. He who created logic is permitted to transcend it.

Based on letters and talks of the Rebbe, Rabbi M. M. Schneerson
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.
The content on this page is copyrighted by the author, publisher and/or Chabad.org, and is produced by Chabad.org. If you enjoyed this article, we encourage you to distribute it further, provided that you comply with the copyright policy.
Print
E-mail
Sort By:
Discussion (9)
November 27, 2012
Purposes
We have our limits and boundaries; and through G-d everything. can be achieved.
Lasarusa Tehuda Sovea Ben-Zion
Suva, Fiji Islands
November 25, 2012
Context 4 anonymous?
the Rabbi states the Talmud as the source of this saying. Are you trying to create confusion? Is there a relationship or allusion to this 'elephant' saying with the Zoharistic discussion of how to fit a camel through the eye of a needle?

It seems no matter which way 'the cookie crumbles' there are untied knots here, mysteries, are they meant to be pinned down? Torah is endless discovery. Which section of the Talmud is being referred to? I guess factual information is needed?
Trish
November 25, 2012
logic
Guess I'm not very logical. I feel G-d can do anything. It doesn't matter one bit to me how, I just believe G-d can do anything, anywhere, any time!
valerie
akron, oh
November 25, 2012
A pink elephant/ real or imaginary
A pink elephant is defined as an irrational thought or a schizophrenic episode. When the person sees a pink elephant, they are in no condition to be reasoned with; they are beyond logic.
If someone sees a pink elephant and another one does not see the pink elephant, then one has a few choices. One might agree with seeing the pink elephant since it is so real to the other one and then communication by validation can take place. Or one can say you are sick and trust me the pink elephant is only in your imagination and this response will make the person crazier as they really see the pink elephant and are trying to prove their case.
So in our own illogical states, we have imaginary pink elephants that are not physically real. This is taking the leap to describe how we humans have already managed to put an elephant through a needle ourselves.
A Psych may say needless needles and get an elephant through the hole.
Hashem created people with mental illness. Hashem can do it physically.
Anonymous
July 8, 2010
eye of a needle
The size of the needle eye is not the problem, it's the shape.
As I understand it the gateway through the wall in many middle Eastern towns/cities was tall and narrow, and called a 'needle eye'. For a camel to pass through, it's load had to be taken off. So coming to G-d we unload our achievements etc in order to have access.
Russ Johnson
Calgary, Canada
July 6, 2010
Why-
would G-d create logic and disregard it?

Why would G-d create anything and disregard it?

To transcend something, and/or to go beyond something, is not the same thing as disregarding it.

Example: Einstein comparing his accomplishments to Newton. Mr. Einstein, when asked about it once said something to the effect of:

"Newton's theories are still good. I've just gone to the next level beyond them."

Btw, did you know, Rabbi Freeman, that Newton was fluent in Hebrew, and was among the first to explore the possibilities of 'codes' in the Torah?
Thomas Karp
New Haven, Ct.
July 6, 2010
Surprising Revelation!
This is a surprising revelation, but very true. Thanks for sharing!

Regards.
Shahid
July 6, 2010
Don't be mislead
Nature is logical. G-d is above nature.
Arno-Aaron
Potsdam, Germany
January 2, 2005
G-d also created the Torah, which is Torat Emet, "the Torah of truth." G-d does not violate His Torah.
Max Shichtman
1000 characters remaining
Email me when new comments are posted.
FEATURED ON CHABAD.ORG