Date: Sun, 26 Dec 1999 21:11:41 -0500 (EST)
From: Russell Hendel <  rhendel@mcs.drexel.edu>
Subject: Re: Faith


QUESTION: What is the definition of
the word "faith". Can you descibe what it is, how you keep faith, etc

This has been previously discussed on Torah Forum. I cited Rav Hirsch's
etymology of FAITH. The Hebrew Root AMN means FAITH, SCULPTURE, NURSE and
CANCER(?)

The Sculpterer and Nurse don't just create the statue and child, rather
they delineate every detail of the statue and child. Similarly CANCER would
denote not just any disease but a disease that takes over all of ones cells
and "molds" them in a new image.

Rav Hirsch concludes that the simple meaning of FAITH is similar: It means
that I surrender every component of my existence to G-d who will "mold" me
in His Values.  This answers the question of how you keep faith---you keep
faith by allowing G-d to infiltrate EVERY facet of your life.

Russell Hendel;Phd ASA; Math, Towson Univ;
http://www.shamash.org/rashi/