Why We Believe: Evidence of Design, Purpose, and Continuity in a Complex World

This week I heard that the father of a close friend — who openly describes himself as a skeptic, passed away. His pain was immense, and understandably so.

But I found myself wondering: For someone who denies the existence of a Creator, who does not believe in an afterlife — what comfort is available when a loved one dies? If there is no Divine purpose and no world beyond this one, how can a person cope with such a loss?

And what about a believer? Our discussion here is directed toward those who believe in a Creator: How can we help them find strength and comfort when a loved one passes away?

A believing person understands that everything that happens is from God, who loves them and acts for their ultimate good. Someone who believes in the eternity of the soul, in life after death, and in a world to come where the soul receives reward, finds it easier to endure and survive the pain of losing a loved one.

A Mother, a Son, and the Border: A Parable of Comfort

The Alshich HaKadosh offers a powerful parable: A mother and her son live in a damp, dark basement, in poverty and distress.
The father who is wealthy, loving, and generous, lives in a different land. They cannot reach him, and the separation causes them great sorrow.

One day, the mother is given a one-time opportunity to send her son across the border to reunite with his father. On one hand, the mother is heartbroken to part from her beloved child. On the other, she is filled with joy knowing her son will now live in comfort, abundance, and love with his father.

Which emotion outweighs the other?

A loving mother says: “Yes, my heart aches that he is not with me, but my joy is greater — because he is now in the best place possible, with his father.”

So too, when a dear relative passes, we know they are not gone forever — they are simply “beyond the border.” They have returned to their Father in Heaven — the infinitely rich, loving Father who cares for every detail of their life. They are now in the best place for their soul.

Therefore, although grief is natural, excessive mourning or despair is neither necessary nor helpful.

How Food Knows Where to Go: A Built-In Miracle Within Us

Inside our throat are two different tubes:

• The trachea, which leads to the lungs and allows us to breathe.

• The esophagus, which leads to the stomach and allows us to eat and drink.

To prevent choking, the Creator designed a precise valve that automatically seals the trachea each time we swallow. This mechanism ensures that food and liquid enter only the esophagus. If the trachea doesn’t close properly, a small piece of food may enter it — triggering a cough reflex that forcefully ejects the food.

Is it reasonable to believe that such an intelligent, protective system that is so full of foresight, came into existence on its own, without a Designer?

“I Will Gather Them From the Ends of the Earth”: The Miracle of Ingathering

With the establishment of the State of Israel, Jews gathered from all corners of the world. If we examine this phenomenon honestly, it becomes clear: it is supernatural, filled with paradoxes and events that defy logic.

How did a small, battered, persecuted nation receive the most strategic, desirable land in the world? It should have been impossible. Yet the Torah explicitly promises that after a long exile, God will gather the Jewish People back to their land: “If your dispersed are at the ends of the heavens—from there God will gather you…” (Devarim 30:3–5)

The prophets also describe the impossible: Among the returnees will be “the blind, the lame, the pregnant, the woman in labor”—all traveling together, from the farthest ends of the earth. “A great assembly will return here…” (Yirmiyahu 31:7–8)

In ancient times:

• A lame person could not travel far.

• A blind person could not undertake long journeys.

• A woman who had just given birth could not travel at all.

• There were no efficient travel routes — only donkeys!

Yet the verse says they will arrive “on a straight path.” And indeed, planes and ships brought them from all over the world. Who could have imagined air travel thousands of years ago?

The prophets describe: “Who are these who fly like clouds… like doves to their windows?” (Yeshayahu 60:4–8) They arrived exactly as described.

The Land’s Desolation — A Prophetic Guarantee

For 2,000 years the Land of Israel was barren and empty, despite countless attempts by various nations to settle it.

But the Torah had already foretold: “Your enemies who dwell there shall be astonished… your land shall be desolate…” (Vayikra 26:32–34)

And yet, once the Jewish People returned, the Land blossomed: “But you, mountains of Israel, will give forth your branches and bear fruit for My people Israel…” (Yechezkel 36:8)

Only the people of Israel could revive it — exactly as promised. Who can predict such unlikely events thousands of years in advance and fulfill them? Only the One who guides history.

(Image: shutterstock)

“Do Not Add and Do Not Subtract”: Is Our Torah the Same as at Sinai?

Many wonder: How can we know that the Torah we have today is the exact same Torah given at Sinai?

1. Absolute accuracy in reading

In every synagogue:

• If the Torah reader makes a mistake, he is corrected immediately.

• If one letter is missing, extra, or damaged, the Torah scroll is invalid until repaired.

Tiny mistakes matter because the Torah must be preserved exactly as received.

2. Global consistency after 2,000 years

Jews exiled to Yemen, Poland, Morocco, Iraq, and Russia all preserved the same ancient commandments of Brit Milah, Shabbat, Tefillin and Kashrut. Despite never communicating, the traditions remained identical.

3. 304,805 letters — all identical

After millennia of manual copying, scrolls from all around the world match letter-for-letter. No additions. No omissions.

4. Archaeological confirmation

Prof. Yigael Yadin noted the astounding similarity between the ancient tefillin from the Second Temple period found in Qumran and modern tefillin used today.

He also compared ancient mikvaot in Masada with modern halachic standards, which is identical in design.

5. Built-in protection

The Torah itself prohibits altering even a single detail: “Do not add and do not subtract…” (Devarim 4:2)

Any rabbi attempting to change a commandment would be immediately rejected. The system protects itself against corruption. Thus we can be confident that we observe the same Torah given at Sinai.

(Image: shutterstock)

Why Do Humans Look Different if We All Come From Adam?

Some people wonder: If all humans descend from Adam and Eve, why do we have different appearances — black, white, Asian?

Does this prove multiple human species evolved? The answer is that we have genetic variations, but we are not different species.

Species adapt to their environments, but they do not transform into entirely new species. Melanin levels — the pigment responsible for skin color, adjusts based on environmental conditions:

• High sunlight → the body increases pigment production.

• Low sunlight → the body decreases pigment.

These variations were already programmed into human DNA from the beginning. 

Just as there are many breeds of dogs with different shapes and colors, but they are all still dogs — not cats, or a new species, differences in appearance in humans are variations, but not an indication of evolution into separate human species.

A World of Purpose, Design, and Continuity

Whether reflecting on:

• The comfort faith brings during loss

• The miracles within the human body

• The prophetic return of the Jewish People

• The preservation of the Torah

• Or the diversity of humanity

we find a consistent theme that we live in a world filled with order, intention, and purpose, guided, protected, and lovingly shaped by God.