A Passover Message for Tufts Students 2025

 A Passover Message for Tufts Students 

Confidence amid Uncertainty: A Reflection for Young Jews Today 

By Rabbi Naftali Brawer Ph.D. Neubauer Executive Director, Tufts Hillel 

We live in volatile and unpredictable times—nationally and globally. For Jews there is the additional anxiety about the conflict in Gaza and the internal tensions tearing at the fabric of Israeli society. These are uncertain times, filled with questions about the future. The world around us seems to be shifting, and the ground beneath our feet feels unstable. As I reflect on my own feelings of insecurity, I am reminded of a verse from Psalms that is recited as part of the Hallel prayer: 

“O Israel, trust (Heb. betach) in the LORD! He is their help and shield.” (Psalm 115:9)  

This verse is an invitation to trust that, regardless of the circumstances, everything will work out. The word betach here, often translated as “trust,” can also mean faith or certainty—suggesting that in times of uncertainty, we can take comfort in the belief that everything will ultimately fall into place according to a divine master plan. It suggests that, even if we cannot see it, there is a larger order to the world, and if we trust in that plan, all will be well in the end. 

Yet, for many of us, this classical theology falls well short of our perceived reality. When facing pressing and frightening challenges that inherently defy easy resolution the pollyannish belief that all will be resolved in the end is implausible. These well-meaning assurances can feel like empty platitudes that only deepen our unease. If you, like me, have found that this kind of bitachon falls short at a time like this, I think it’s worth considering a different nuance of betach—one that speaks to a different kind of strength in the face of uncertainty. 

“The wicked flee though no one gives chase, but the righteous are as confident (Heb. betach) as a lion.” (Proverbs 28:1) 

Here, betach doesn’t imply a certainty about the future or a passive trust that everything will resolve itself. Instead, it reflects a quiet but resolute confidence in the present. It suggests that, even in the face of uncertainty or threat, one discovers the strength to stand firm and resolute, not because they know what will come, but because they are grounded in the moment and confident in their ability to face whatever lies ahead. This confidence is not about knowing the outcome, but about how we carry ourselves amid the unknown. 

This interpretation of betach/bitachon offers a subtle but powerful shift. It invites us not to wait for certainty before moving forward, but to stand confidently and act with resolve, even in times of ambiguity. It challenges us to find strength in our ability to navigate uncertainty without needing to know how it will all unfold. 

Kierkegaard on Faith: Embracing the Uncertainty 

This theme of confidence in the face of uncertainty can also be found in the existential philosophy of Søren Kierkegaard. Kierkegaard, often seen as the father of existentialism, wrote extensively about faith and its relationship to doubt. For Kierkegaard, faith is not about certainty or assurance that things will turn out well. Rather, faith is a commitment made in the face of doubt and the unknown. It is the courage to act in the absence of certainty, to make a “leap” into the unknown. Faith, for him, is not a passive waiting for things to be revealed, but an active choice to move forward with confidence despite the void. 

In this light, Kierkegaard’s notion of faith aligns closely with the betach described in Proverbs. It is not about knowing how the story will end, but about trusting enough to step into the unknown with resolve. It’s about choosing to stand firm in the moment, even when the future remains unclear. 

Rav Shagar: Faith in the Void 

The postmodern thinker and rabbi Shimon Gershon Rosenberg known as Rav Shagar, offers a similar perspective on faith. He writes about the tension between the void and the divine, noting that true faith is not the absence of uncertainty, but rather the ability to face it head-on. Rav Shagar emphasizes that faith is found not in the absence of questions or doubts, but in the courage to engage with them. For him, faith is not about denying the void but about embracing it and moving through it with confidence and resolve. 

This kind of faith does not provide easy answers or assurances that everything will be fine. Instead, it teaches us that it is precisely in the engagement with uncertainty—the willingness to act and live within the tension of the unknown—that we find spiritual strength. This is the kind of faith that does not shield us from the challenges of the world, but empowers us to face them with dignity and resilience. 

A Reflection for Young Jews Today: Strength in the Present 

As young Jews today, you are coming of age in a world that feels increasingly fragile. The assumptions of stability that previous generations may have taken for granted no longer seem assured. The state of our country, the turbulence of global affairs, and the challenges facing Israel weigh heavily. In times like these, uncertainty is not just an abstract concept – it is the defining condition of the moment. 

Yet, the call to betach – to trust, to stand with confidence – does not ask you to deny this uncertainty. It does not demand blind faith in an outcome we cannot predict. Rather, it calls for something deeper: a quiet strength in the present. It asks you to anchor yourself not in illusions of control, but in the clarity of your convictions, the depth of your identity, and the resilience of your people. 

The Jewish story has never been one of ease and today is no exception. But it has always been one of perseverance. The world may shift around you, the headlines may unsettle, but your task is not to wait for stability to return. Your task is to meet this moment with resolve. Like the lion in Proverbs, who stands firm despite not knowing what lies ahead, you too can act with courage—not because the future is certain, but because strength comes from the stance you take today. 

A Quiet Strength in Uncertain Times 

In an era where change is constant and history feels as if it is being rewritten in real-time, confidence does not come from predicting what will be. It comes from knowing who you are, what you stand for, and the values that shape your choices. The righteous in Proverbs are not fearless because they know the outcome—they are fearless because they refuse to be paralyzed by uncertainty. 

For those of you navigating these turbulent times, this is the kind of betach I hope we can embrace: not a naïve trust that all will be well, but a deeper confidence that we will meet the challenges before us with dignity and determination. Stand with clarity, with purpose, and with pride. The future remains unknown, but it is in the strength of the present that you define who you are.