Intelligence Liberated

Blind faith is intellect’s most deadly foe. Intellect that would surrender to faith has forfeited its very nature.

True faith is intellect’s most vital partner. To travel beyond its boundaries, intellect must find a vision that transcends itself.

That is the meaning of true faith: A perspective that surpasses the field of intellect’s vision, a sense that there is something not only unknown, but unknowable; something before which all our knowledge is an infinitesimal point of nothingness.

And so, the mind that fears faith will choose a truth with which it is most comfortable, while the mind that has found a partner in faith will choose truth that is absolute.

Maamar Bayom Ashtei Assar, 5731.

« Previous

Faith, Intellect, Wisdom

Grasping Truth

From the wisdom of the Lubavitcher Rebbe, of righteous memory; words and condensation by Rabbi Tzvi Freeman. Subscribe and get your dose daily. To order Rabbi Freeman’s latest book, Wisdom to Heal the Earth, click here.

Browse Book

Wisdom to Heal the Earth »

By Tzvi Freeman

Buy Book

Wisdom to Heal the Earth is a revolutionary new look at Tikun Olam based on the teachings of the Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson, of righteous memory.

In this Book

Join the Discussion

18 Comments

Newest

Oldest

Feigue Cieplinski Middletown June 29, 2026

The fragment of the Rebbe appears (at first) to be a contradiction. Yet, when reviewing it a second time it makes so much sense: not everything is one color! One thing is faith, and another is blind -faith. No, it is not a minor difference- since it means that we use our intellect we were gifted to grasp options. Blind literally means no seeing, and in case of human beings' emotions that blindness can carry us to the wrong path of forfeiting the nuances of this complicated life we all live. Every time we are confronted with something in the community we must apply those nuances of Hashkafa that allow different people to see issues as each of us understand them-instead of judging without coloring that situation. The nuances are what allow us to live as part of a community because not all of us have the same education, or perspectives , given the Diaspora. Yet, since we are all Am Israel, no matter where we live the intellect helps Emunah soo that we have :derech eretz. Reply

Niven Nolte Hermanus November 29, 2017

Thank you. Reply

Sue UK November 29, 2017

I am rather confused Rabbi. I'm sure I read, a few days ago, that "faith" as such wasn't enough; rather, it should be "trust". Well, I do have Faith but I have always, to my shame, battled with Trust although in my old age, the latter has improved enormously. I would be most grateful if you could spare the time to elaborate a little. Thank you . Reply

Ben R UAE June 25, 2021

in response to Sue:

The article has a narrow focus on the dynamics between intellect and faith, the age old Religion vs Science debate. What can be known empirically or through logic in a sense applies its own limits on being able to conceive beyond that - ie, what the individual doesn’t know, and a sense of what can’t be known. Faith helps out by conceiving an existence beyond what’s known without reducing the value of what’s known: a healthy mindset that Einstein had.

Trust / bitachon has a more general application. when things happen in this world - this ignorance, that failure or tragedy - our view tends to reduce to the material world, that of no pattern or ultimate justice or meaning. Trust help to reinstall that which faith has already established even if it gets beaten down and obscured sometimes by ‘daily life’: an existence beyond, and more specifically, underlying goodness and blessing to each event. Reply

RW USA June 25, 2021

in response to Ben R:

Very Nice! Reply

Sue Northwich June 30, 2021

in response to Ben R:

Thank you. Reply

JF June 29, 2026

in response to Ben R:

Not exactly. Bitachon is trust that G-d runs the world. That there is a reason and meaning beyond what we can know or perceive to be those reasons. And it is all for the good. Everything is from G-d and it is all for the good. We want everything perfect for us now, not necessarily for the other person. The state of that perfection is Moshiach.

'Magic' is what people introduce into a conversation to minimize what is a relationship with the Almighty. Judaism, not a religion - which looks to "get" from the Aibishter - is a relationship woth the Aibishter. Jews have allowed that concept to be dastardized by those who thonk theur "religion" is similar to Judaism, only a better "version". As if that were possible.

Scientists may think arrogantly that they have the market cornered on deep, intellectual thought. They have not studied as Jews do. Knowing that there is a Creator, G-d, is incredibly knowing and humbling. Reply

RW Dallas May 26, 2015

Jeff there is a good page on " Faith, Intellect, Wisdom" which may be something you could look at. Focus on the individual lines to clarity, then put it together.

Warmest Regards, Reply

Jeff Florida December 28, 2014

Further Explanation This is an area where I struggle. I'm not quite sure I understand what has been written here.
Could you perhaps put this in other words? Or, point me in a direction of further study on the topic?
My intellect drives me in the opposite direction of faith. Reply

Brenda Toronto, Canada December 28, 2014

Faith Without Logic The sages, the kabbalists imagined going beyond our reason of self-love.
That vision attracted the Light that pulled them to the next level of attainment
- by attainment we mean their vision merited the reward of perceiving the next level of reality.

We too should never simply believe anything - that is blind faith.
- We need to attain the true reality by trying to imagine what is beyond our instincive logic. Reply

RexJ Brisbane, Australia March 13, 2014

Great thought. Best explanation of the reality of an intelligent man who has faith I've yet seen. Thank you. Reply

Anonymous sf, usa October 7, 2012

faith This is yet another amazing though by the Rebbe.
How liberating to hear that at the time when so many will choose to abstain from their faith by simply not knowing how to balance being a cultural Jew and traditional all at the same time .
Thank you! Reply

Eugina Giovanna Herrera New York, New York October 4, 2012

True Faith True Faith can't never be blind until you don't see it.

Thank You Reply

Jose St Michael, Barbados April 29, 2010

Faith versus Darwin Faith though not tangible has substance.
There appears to be more substantiated fact re the Biblical accounts than there is to Darwinism which is based not on fact primarily,but on 5 assumptions that have not been proved, not even in the fossils. That is why in today's world there are eminent scientist who can be comfortable mixing faith in their creator with their other acquired knowledge. Reply

Rabbi Tzvi Freeman April 29, 2010

Re: the leap And Darwinism does not require faith? True, there's plenty of empirical evidence that all life on the planet is related. But that molecules can spontaneously become amino acids and those strings of aminos can organize themselves into proteins which will then group to form the basic cells of life...until we have complex critters eventually rising out of the mud---that doesn't require a leap of faith?

Materialism is no less a religion than any other faith. Perhaps a little more blind. Reply

Syed Shahid Ali Karachi, Pakistan April 29, 2010

Thank you! A very enlightening point! Thank you for sharing! Light to us all! Reply

Anonymous April 29, 2010

the leap What is difficult is making the leap from no faith or doubtful faith to true faith. Even with all our history and legends, archaeology makes a strong case for Darwinism instead of Creation. Reply

John Lee Singapore, Singapore April 29, 2010

Intelligence Liberated Personally, I believe that there is no such thing as blind faith. To God and the believer, "faith" sees the Invisible and do the Impossible. That faith pleases God and rewards the believer. Reply

More in this section

Join the Discussion