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Parshat Lech Lecha
If Albo’s assertion that “hope” causes a person to become despondent is correct, then how is it possible for the Jewish tradition to lay claim that “hope” is a worthy expression? Albo finds the answer to this question in this week’s haftarah: “Even the youth shall faint and be weary and the young men shall utterly fall but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings of eagles. They shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not be faint.” (Isaiah 40:30-31) According to Albo, these two verses illustrate two different types of “hope”: one which saps a person of his or her strength and the other which is a constant source of strength. Hope or anticipation where the source of trust is uncertain will cause a person to despair while hope that in rooted is the ultimate source of trust will provide a person with strength and joy. The prophet Isaiah teaches us that God is the source of this later kind of trust. Albo captures philosophically the essence of what Isaiah expresses poetically. Albo’s insight is even more discernable when we note the verse which precedes these two verses. There God, Himself, is described as indefatigable using the very same words – “not weary” and “not faint” used afterward to describe those who trust in Him: “Do you not know? Have you not heard? The everlasting God, Lord, the Creator of the world, neither faints nor becomes weary, His discernment is beyond comprehension.” (verse 28). Ultimately, the message of both the prophet and the philosopher is the same. Spiritual strength can only come from trust in God.
The United Synagogue Conservative Yeshiva in Jerusalem offers students of all backgrounds the skills for studying Jewish texts. We are a vibrant, open-minded egalitarian community of committed Jews who learn, practise and grow together. Our goal is to provide students the ability and desire to continue Jewish learning and practice throughout their lives. Rashei Yeshiva: Rabbi Richard Lewis, Rabbi Joel Roth and Rabbi Pesach Schindler.
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