Throughout the Torah and our studies, we learn that Hashem does not have to prove anything to us. Every day as we say the Shema, “Hear O Israel. The L-rd our G-d is One”, we firmly believe in all that the Torah teaches and need no other proof that it is true. However, we continue by saying, “to your name give honor.” To those who would challenge you, please answer them, in order that Your great Name be glorified by all. Even though we don’t need proof of Hashem’s greatness, the nonbelievers do, and we trust that He will reveal Himself to them — in His own time and way.

Tam and Chacham used to travel to faraway places to encourage people to bind themselves to Torah and mitzvos. During such journey, they stayed with an observant Jewish innkeeper and noticed that something was troubling the man and asked him about it.

The distraught innkeeper explained: “Yesterday a man came into the inn and ordered a drink. He then reached into his bag and took out some food and put it on the table. To my amazement, I saw that it was a piece of pork! Then he turned to me and said  ‘It says in the Torah that one is forbidden to eat pork. Well, if there is a G-d, let him make me choke on this pork that I’m now going to eat.’ With that he swallowed the pork, and nothing at all happened to him! This incident has shaken my faith and has caused me to have doubts”

As soon as he finished speaking, the innkeeper’s son burst through the door and proudly announced that he had received his degree with honors in his major, music, and that he was qualified to enter a higher institution or even apply for a position in the symphony orchestra.

After his father told him how proud he was. Tam and Chacham wished him a hearty mazel tov and wished him much success. Chacham asked the young musician if he could test him. The young man proudly responded, “Yes by all means!” Chacham asked the young man to play Avinu Malkeinu so he could offer his opinion of the young man’s ability. The proud musician was highly offended at this request, and stormed out of the room. The father was embarrassed by his son’s disrespectful behavior, and ran after him to make him come back and apologize to Tam and Chacham. The young man apologized but then tried to explain why he had been so angry. “The degree I just received is proof of my proficiency. There should be no further need of tests to prove my ability. And so I felt hurt and angry that you wanted to test me with such a simple song – A song known and played by every child.”

“Absolutely,” agreed Chacham to everyone’s surprise. “I simply wanted to make a point, to stress how absurd it is for someone to try to test G-d. His Torah is the only ‘degree’ we need, and for this reason there is no need for further tests.”

We say to Hashem You do not have to prove anything to us. We firmly believe in everything Your Torah teaches. It is taught, “reason has long since decided that the Holy One, blessed be He needs nothing, but all things need Him,” (Emunos v’Deos 3:10  933 ce)

May all your tales end with Shalom (peace)

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