The Power of Thought in Judaism: Why Mind Over Matter Truly Matters

Parents often ask their children to communicate with words, to get what they want, instead of using force. At a young age, children still believe that real power lies in their hands and feet.

As they grow older, they begin to understand that the power of words is stronger, and that words can kill. “Life and death are in the power of the tongue.” A word can warm, encourage, build up, and give strength. But it can also, God forbid, push away, shatter, and destroy.

They grow more, and then they come to see that the power of the ears is even stronger. Listening builds connection. Through it, we can hear and reflect, and communicate more effectively. Listening allows us to build those around us — our spouse, our children, and truly get to know them on a deeper level.

With more maturity, they understand that the power of the eyes is even greater. The eyes are the window to the soul. That’s why someone who is lying can’t look another person in the eye. Vision directly affects both the brain and the heart. As the Talmudic Sages said: “Hearing is not the same as seeing” As the saying goes: A picture is worth a thousand words.

Then, at an even deeper level, one realizes there is a power above all — the power of thought.

Thought governs everything. It directs the body, determines our actions and the quality of those actions. Thought affects the entire person and the world around them.

Rabbi Tauber was once asked by a young man how to guard his eyes. He replied: “If someone placed a $1 million envelope under certain products in a huge store and announced that whoever finds it gets to keep it, would you see anything in that store except for the envelope and your search for it? Of course not! When the mind is fully focused on something important, everything else disappears.”

The power of thought is the most influential of all human faculties. The power of action is limited. Even if you train to throw a ball far, your movement has natural limitations.

Speech can reach farther — you can be heard from a distance, and your words can influence people across the globe. Hearing can reach even farther — an explosion can be heard from great distances. Vision extends even more — you can see people talking from far away, even if you can’t hear them.

But thought transcends all. According to our Sages, thought can reach to infinity. As they said, “Thoughts of sin are worse than sin itself,” and likewise, thoughts of repentance are so powerful that they can elevate a person from wickedness to righteousness.

Thought is above all because it resides in the highest part of the human being. Unlike animals, whose bodies are horizontal and all parts are on the same level, the human stands upright. In a person, physical height mirrors spiritual rank. The highest part of the body is the head, which houses the brain, the seat of the soul. It holds the most elevated human faculty: thought.

Below the head is the heart, the seat of emotion. Below that is the liver, which represents the physical urges and appetites. Thus, the structure of the human body teaches us a spiritual truth: above the liver is the heart, and above the heart is the mind.

A man influenced by the Enlightenment movement once came to Rabbi Yonatan Eibeschutz and said mockingly: “According to Judaism, thought is considered equal to action. So I’ll ask you a question in thought, and you can answer me in thought.”
Rabbi Yonatan paused a moment and then said, “In my mind, I’ve already answered you.”