A Project Genesis website

JewishAnswers.org

Ask the Rabbi: answers from Project Genesis rabbis

Beyond description

Question


If we believe that G-d is totally beyond our understanding, imagination-which for me is very logical, how can we describe Him as being one you can’t describe something that you cant imagine

Answer

The Torah in many instances attributes “human” characteristics to help one understand the narrative (i.e. “the hand of G-d”, Hashem’s hearing, seeing etc., His being an angry, compassionate, jealous G-d etc.). The Torah states that “Hashem is One”, so even were one to feel that they understood what that means in a descriptive sense (and I cannot personally make that claim), it is a statement of fact made in the Torah, and not the subjective description that you or I might make. Thank you for your question.

R’ Daniel Fleksher