Emunah, what is it? “Emunah” fundamentally means “Trust” or “Faith”. Yet, this is only the bare basic meaning – if we look at it deeply enough it means: “I have trust/faith, now watch me outwork it/act on it/walk it out”.

What is the use of Emunah (אמונה)? (Or, why is it necessary in life)?

Seeing we are a multi-faceted being Emunah comes naturally to us. As we can easily become zealous in our attribute of trusting/faithfulness, and we are designed to act upon/work out matters.

(This defines Emunah well).

Yet, what’s Emunah’s purpose within the Human Experience?

Let’s redefine the ‘Human Experience’. In Hebrew, “Human” is the word “Adam” (אדם), which is derrived from and can also mean “made for more” (or “Damah” or “דמה”). So by this explanation the human experience is simply becoming more, as this is a fundamental piece in the outworking of our design.

Without Emunah, Adam cannot fulfil the becoming more. As without the drive to better one’s self, one will not become more but rather stay in one place. Which drives us in most cases into anger, depression or anxiety – due to our core design not being met.

Therefore, I would support the statement saying: “Emunah is the glue to an ethos”. As when people are interacting together displaying this substance between households, the ethos is strong and will only continue to progress forward. And when this substance is abscent from an ethos, we see a rapid decline therein. To which the ethos needs a reviving so there can be a hope for the future of the ethos – as there has been many ethea that have died due to a lack of Emunah.

Whether one is spiritually, logically, intellectually or wisely inclined – Emunah is both a passive and active substance we all have. It is the substance that fuels our intrigue. It is what drives us to search out the unknowns in various things (i.e faith, science, history, self etc). Yet, it is also the substance that causes a deep-seeded longing for belonging and community, which many-a-substance then stems forth from.

In finishing, to use a parable, Emunah is the water to the seeds we plant. No matter whether a day is dry or wet, or a season is dry or wet. Without this water touching the seed, there is no established gardens for harvesting. As a garden takes time to grow, so too does our life and choices take time to ripen before we see it’s fruits. Remember, harvest comes after much hard work, yet harvesting itself takes work to steward work previously done.

With patience, our Emunah matures us to avail much in this garden called Life.

It is the privilege of the mature to establish things for future generations. Yet, it is the privilege of the next generation to seek out and listen to the words of the mature – so they too may become the mature in their generation. This then becomes the endless cycle, spanning eras. ~ Philosopher