Ufos

There is nothing wrong with the belief that there may be other forms of life in other parts of the universe. There is even a Talmudic statement that suggests the existence of life on other planets. Only when the belief in aliens assumes a religious character, or when it becomes one’s obsession, distracting one from more important concerns, that it is deemed harmful.

UFOs?

Our society has recently been inundated with stories about UFOs and aliens. Modern culture is obsession with these “other worldly” forces.

What is it that encourages intelligent people to believe in aliens coming to pick them up and take them away to other worlds?

To be sure, there is nothing wrong with the belief that there may be other forms of life in other parts of the universe. There is even a Talmudic statement that suggests the existence of life on other planets.

Only when the belief in aliens assumes a religious character, or when it becomes one’s obsession, distracting one from more important concerns, that it is deemed harmful.

One answer as to why there is such an emphasis on aliens lies in the realization that some of the most bizarre human emotions are rooted in genuine spiritual faculties of the soul. Our soul is not only the source of life for the body and the source of its intellect and emotions, it is also the source of the capacity we have to believe and have faith.

Soul’s Grasp of that which is Beyond Logic

When there is nothing to cloud our soul’s pure faith, it expresses itself in just one way: faith in G-d and in His teachings. Whereas intellect can grasp things that are within the realm of the logical and rational, the soul’s power of faith can “grasp” even that which is beyond the realm of logic: the Divine.

Indeed, everyone, because, of their G-dly soul, possesses this faith. It is, in fact, the most natural and inner realization of the soul. When, however, the light of the soul is obscured by the body’s egotistical and materialistic interests, the soul’s true sense of faith in G-d, is likewise clouded and often distorted.

In the past, when the soul’s pure faith was obstructed it led to either denial of G-d’s very existence, or denial of His teachings. The rebellion of Korach, the name and theme of this week’s Torah portion, is a prime example of how one’s inflated ego, led an otherwise brilliant and very spiritual person to deny G-d’s choosing of Moses as His messenger. Rebellion and rejection of G-d, is not, however, the only reaction that can occur when the soul is not capable of fully expressing itself. In the present day and age, we are witness to a very different reaction to the soul’s inability to fully manifest itself within our lives. Instead of causing us to lose our faith, we might misdirect our faith by placing it in the wrong things.

Living in the Shadow (or light) of Moshiach

This, indeed, is what is happening in the present era. We are now living in different and unusual times. As we have stated on numerous occasions, we are living in the very shadow, (or: perhaps more accurately: in the very light) of the Messianic Age. This sensitizes us to be receptive to those things “out there” that are more spiritual and less rational.

On the other hand, we have yet to be taken out of Galus (exile). Galus is not simply a state of geographic distance from our Land. Galus represents the state of spiritual alienation; when we are not completely in touch with our own inner selves.

Diversion of Faith

The effects of the paradoxical state in which we find ourselves – on the one hand, we are basking in the G-dly light of the Messianic Age, and, on the other hand, we are still experiencing spiritual alienation – is that, while our soul is more likely than ever before to express itself and radiate with faith, this faith might be misdirected and distorted.

Rather than to put our faith and trust in G-d, His Torah and in the imminent coming of Moshiach (among the other 10 Principle of Faith, enunciated by Maimonides), there are those who divert their faith into other areas, such as belief in the occult, belief in aliens, astrology and in all the “isms” that have become so popular in the recent past, but have failed us so miserably.

The difference between faith in something that is not real and placing one faith in G-d, is that the former is irrational, lower than one’s intellect, while the latter is super-rational, i.e., it transcends and goes beyond the intellect, it does not negate it. . True faith complements our understanding and feelings, deepens them and imbues them with more life.

The lesson for us is obvious. Let us learn to distinguish between the real and enduring values, the ones associated with G-d and Torah, in which to invest our faith and trust. To do this one does not have to dramatically change anything, just redirect the faith and trust we have in the wrong things, into G-d, Torah and the imminent arrival of Moshiach.

From the book Light from the Future: Parshas Korach by Rabbi Heschel Greenberg, published by the Jewish Discovery Center.