Is there a difference between “belief” and “faith” or, as we would say in Hebrew, between “emunah” and “bitachon”? Generally, we use these two terms interchangeably. However, I believe (no pun intended) that there is a subtle difference in the connotations of these words—a difference better understood through the use of the Hebrew terms rather than the English ones. We “believe” that something could happen while we have “faith” that it will. “Emunah” is best translated as “belief in” while “bitachon” is born of the root b,t,h, certainty, “faith that.”
The baseball fan who follows his favorite team regularly might sit nervously in the bottom of the ninth inning as he watches the team, behind by three runs, load the bases. He would then close his eyes and pray that their best hitter will send the next pitch into the stands, and trot around the bases with the winning run. Because, you see, he believes in the batter’s ability. The rabid fanatic, on the other hand, will watch with a calm smile on his face and wager with his friend that the slugger WILL hit the walk-off home run. Because he is sure—with complete faith—that the hitter will succeed.
The opening words of this week’s selection, words addressed to the grieving nation, “Anochi, Anochi Hu Menachemchem, It is I, only I, who comforts you,” are often misunderstood. They are not, as most might understand it, the opening words of a prophecy but, rather, it is actually a response to a question posed by the people and a question repeated by suffering millions over the centuries. “Why must we suffer?” they asked. “Why do You not perform miracles for us as You did years ago in Egypt?” they cried. God responded to these questions with the powerful exclamation “Anochi, Anochi…I, and only I, can comfort you!” It is only through My guarantee of a wonderful future that awaits you, that you will be comforted.
This divine statement reveals an important theme that runs through our haftarah, that is, Hashem would bring the comfort to the suffering nation and, if you would but have faith in Him, you would be comforted by His promise of a glorious future. And yet, I would imagine that, indeed, many believed in Hashem and in His ability to keep His promises. What they lacked was a faith, powerful enough, to be comforted by that promise. What they lacked was the confidence, the surety that the guaranteed future WOULD happen. And when you believe—but only with a question mark, when you close your eyes and hope “if only,” if you believe in God, but only with a “perhaps”—then you lack the faith that is prerequisite to being comforted.
“Anochi, Anochi Hu Menachemchem, It is I, only I, who comforts you,” and “only I” means no one else and nothing else.
And that is what we call complete faith, not belief IN but faith THAT.
That is what we call bitachon.
And that is what guarantees true nechama.
Rabbi Neil Winkler is the rabbi emeritus of the Young Israel of Fort Lee, and now lives in Israel.
