August 12, 2021 / Elul 4, 5781 • Parshat Shoftim
Issue 679
Dedicated in loving memory of Mrs. Miriam Friedman

G-d’s True Witnesses

Moses told the Jewish people
the matter of innocence or guilt must be
confirmed by the testimony of two witnesses

Deuteronomy 19:15


It is the Torah’s position that creation itself testifies to the existence of the Creator, as well as to the fact that His power lies beyond our ability to comprehend. However, the notion that G-d’s essence is not only beyond our ability to understand but beyond our ability to conceive does not follow from examining the world; this truth must be established by “external” witnesses.

The witnesses to the inconceivable nature of G-d’s essence are the Jewish people. By studying the Torah and performing G-d’s commandments, the Jewish people introduce the world to the ineffability of G-d’s essence, paradoxically accomplishing the categorically impossible feat of expressing what is by nature inexpressible.

—from Daily Wisdom #1