This week, as many of you know, there was unfortunately another terrorist attack. Sadly, two sisters and their mother passed away as a result of these attacks.
The father said in their eulogy that some people have asked him how he can have such Emunah, faith in G-d’s continuous goodness. He answered that there is one main formula for Emunah: to focus on what you do have, and not on what you don’t have, and I still have three wonderful children. He said further, “If the Jewish people focus more on what they have, and not on what they don’t, they will find there will be more unity than division.
We all agree that Kriyat Yam Suf was the biggest miracle ever, and yet, people complained about the small inconveniences that came with this miracle. They fussed over the little bit of mud on the ground as they passed through the walls of water. The Gemara in Arachin also teaches that they thought it wasn’t a real miracle, and the Egyptians had survived and were really waiting for them on the other side. They said that just as we are ascending from one side, perhaps also the Egyptians are ascending from the other side, and they will not be saved. This is why HaShem said to the ministering angels of the sea to spit them out onto the land.
We clearly see that there were some Jews that were focusing on the downsides of this miracle, and it lead to some lack of Emunah. But on the other hand, the Mechilta says that when the Egyptians were pursuing the Jews, there was a heavy darkness on them, but they saw Am Yisrael in front of them eating, drinking and celebrating lit with light.
Despite the fact that they were trapped, they truly believed that if Moshe Rabbeinu said that we should sit back and not do anything, and the salvation will come miraculously, that there’s no need to be concerned. This is what saved the entire nation.
Based on this the Rambam says that a person can never be happy without Emunah. Emunah is the best remedy for stability in turbulent times.