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News: December 2005

Why doesn’t G-d speak
to us anymore?

A number of weeks ago, I began teaching the new Florence Melton Mini Course under the auspices of the Addison-Penzak JCC. The classes are so animated that a myriad of questions emerge at each session. At the end of one class, a very esteemed member of the community commented that he found it frustrating that G-d did not just speak in our generation and clear up major theological questions. If G-d spoke to the patriarchs and the prophets, why not speak today?

As we discussed it, I commented that the Age of Prophecy ended for a reason. It was time for the people to mature and not depend on individuals to try to alter the actions of others by asserting what G-d wants from them.

There is a wonderful rabbinic text in Tractate Bava Metzia that speaks to this change. It discusses a time when the rabbis were debating about the ability to use a certain oven. A very distinguished scholar, Rabbi Eliezer, gave many impressive reasons why the oven should be used, in each case saying that if he was correct, the natural process of something would alter, such as a river changing course, trees uprooting and the walls of the house of study starting to tilt inward. The other rabbis were not impressed.

Finally, Rabbi Eliezer said “if I am right, let G-d prove it.” G-d did as Rabbi Eliezer asked, a voice from heaven saying that Rabbi Eliezer was right, thereby “proving” that the individual sage, Eliezer had been supported by G-d. But the rest of the rabbis, witnessing and hearing all this were not moved. They responded that in their day they don’t listen to a heavenly voice to make decisions. G-d gave us the Torah and now, as Rabbi Joshua said, the Torah is not in heaven. It is with us to use G-d’s direction in the Torah to build the world of justice and meaning that G-d wants and we need.

G-d has now given us the responsibility to make our own communal decisions, with the guidance of scholars, without intervening each moment. G-d’s voice is Torah and we give voice to G-d by living Torah and mitzvot.

But, there is something else to add as well. Even though we no longer live in a time when an external voice is heard, that doesn’t mean that G-d is not still speaking to each of us. My beloved teacher in rabbinical school, Rabbi David Aronson (z’l), used to say that G-d communicating is like a radio that provides a certain station. Whether or not we have the radio on, that station is broadcasting. It is the same thing with our Creator. G-d is always communicating with us, speaking to us, that is not the question. The question is whether we are “tuned in.” Are we listening, or have we tuned out the broadcast?

What wonderful opportunities are offered to us by our tradition. We can live Torah and hear G-d speak in our souls. We can still talk to G-d and hear G-d in our quiet focused moments and as we encounter daily miracles.

Maybe, if we think about it, those are much more meaningful communications than a thundering voice from heaven anyway.

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