Still More Questions About God

Q. What does it mean G-d directly acted without intermediary, or He spoke directly to Moses, or to the nation at Sinai? Was the Torah given through an intermediary, an angel of Torah? Thanks!

A. Thanks for your question. God started giving the Torah to everyone, the people couldn't handle it, so they asked Moshe to act as messenger and deliver it to them. This is explicit in parshas Vaeschanan (Deut. 5:4-5):

“Face to face, Hashem spoke with you at the mountain from the midst of the fire; I stood between Hashem and you at that time, to tell you the word of Hashem, because you were afraid of the fire....”

The Torah is also explicit that God didn't use an intermediary when speaking to Moshe: “Hashem would speak to Moshe face to face, like a man speaks to his friend...” (Exodus 33:11).

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Q. Can you believe in miracles? Can God intervene in this world He created?

A. Thanks for your question. Yes, one can believe in miracles. Of course, there are different kinds of miracles. Splitting the sea or stopping the sun is a pretty obvious miracle; rain falling and plants growing are no less miraculous, we're just used to them. God can intervene in the world, and He has done so, but He tends to keep such interventions to a minimum. You're unlikely to see the sky open or time move backwards, but if you keep your eyes open, you'll notice plenty of other miracles that people tend to take for granted.

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Q. What is your belief and opinion about the creation of man in God’s shape and likeness?

A. Thanks for your question. Since God has no physical form, being created in His image clearly doesn't mean ten fingers, two ears and a nose. Rather, it refers to being reasoning creatures with free will. Of all of God's creations, only man has the ability to discern, evaluate and make decisions. Animals are creatures of instinct, and angels, majestic as they might be, are automatons programmed to fulfill their tasks. Man is the only creature “in God's image” in such a manner.

Rabbi Jack's book Ask Rabbi Jack is available from Kodesh Press and on Amazon.com.