But Where is G-d?
Eliot Lasky, the son of Holocaust survivors, grew up in a traditional Jewish home. But at 18, he dropped out of school and threw himself into the counterculture of the 1960s. At the height of the hippie era, he even joined the Rolling Stones on their American tour. More than anything, Eliot longed to belong.
Yet, as time passed, the thrill of that lifestyle wore thin. He began wrestling with deep questions about faith and life. One question he grappled with in particular: “How can Judaism be right while the rest of the world is wrong?”
On a freezing January evening, Eliot showed up unannounced at Chabad headquarters, 770 Eastern Parkway in Brooklyn. As the Rebbe approached the entrance, Eliot — with shoulder-length hair, tight jeans, and a leather jacket — stepped forward and asked bluntly:
“Where is G-d?”
The Rebbe replied gently: “Everywhere. In everything.”
Still unsatisfied, Eliot pressed: “But where is He?”
The Rebbe looked at him and said: “In your heart — if that’s what you’re asking.”
Eliot asked another question: “When we say the Shema — ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our G-d, the Lord is one’ — does that mean one G-d for everyone, whether African American, Indian, or Jewish?”
The Rebbe answered: “The essence of an African American is to be true to his identity as an African American, the essence of the Indian is to be true to his identity as an Indian, and the essence of the Jew is bound to G-d through the Torah and its mitzvot.”
That moment pierced Eliot’s soul. Years later, he recalled: “I began to cry. I had just encountered a man of absolute truth and sincerity.” The encounter slowly transformed his life — and through him, the lives of many others.
That brief 15-minute exchange captured the essence of education and empowerment. Great teachers can guide and inspire, but the strength to choose wisely and the courage to change must come from within.
Justice Anchored in Faith
Faith in G-d is not limited to synagogues or private prayer. It underpins morality itself. That’s why, above the judge’s bench in U.S. courtrooms, the words “In G-d We Trust” are engraved — a reminder that true justice must rest on Divine truth.
The Torah teaches that the obligation to establish justice is not only for Jews but for all humanity, as one of the Seven Noahide Laws. Justice is the backbone of a moral world.
But justice in Torah is never separate from faith. Without faith in a Higher Authority, justice risks becoming relative, swayed by culture or opinion. With faith, it becomes anchored in eternal truth.
Where Is G-d? Justice, Faith, and the King in the Field
This week’s Torah portion, Shoftim, opens with a clear command:
“You shall appoint judges and officials for your tribes, in all the settlements that the Lord your G-d is giving you, and they shall govern the people with due justice” (Deuteronomy 16:18).
The Torah doesn’t only call for fairness — it demands its pursuit:
“Justice, justice shall you pursue, that you may live and possess the land the Lord your G-d is giving you” (16:20).
Justice, faith, and moral clarity are bound together.
The King in the Field
This teaching is especially poignant now, as we begin the month of Elul — the season of preparation for the High Holidays. Elul is a month of reflection and repentance, but on a deeper level, it emphasizes something more: closeness.
Rabbi Schneur Zalman of Liadi, founder of Chabad, illustrated this with a parable: Most of the year, a king resides in his palace, distant and surrounded by formality. To see him requires privilege and protocol. But when the king travels through the fields, everyone can approach him directly. He greets them warmly, with a smile, and grants their requests.
So it is with G-d in Elul. Throughout the year, He is likened to the King in the palace. But in Elul, He comes into the field — into our daily lives — and makes Himself accessible to all. His closeness uplifts even those who feel distant, inspiring us to return and realign ourselves with our true selves. When the High Holidays arrive, we accompany the King back to His palace, entering His innermost chamber.
One might wonder: shouldn’t we approach G-d in elevated, sacred spaces, not amid the routines of daily life?
Of course, prayer, Torah study, and community remain essential. As Maimonides taught, “The prayers of the community are always heard.” But the Torah also insists that G-d is present in our homes, workplaces, and personal lives. Our task is to make those spaces holy — to create a “dwelling place for G-d in the lowest world” (Midrash).
This is why G-d meets us in the field: because His deepest desire is to be present with us in our ordinary, everyday lives.
Finding G-d Here and Now
The lesson is clear: whether in a courtroom or a synagogue, in Torah study or in a private cry of the heart, G-d is present. He is waiting to be found — in our homes, our work, and most importantly, within our hearts.
As we enter Elul, the month when the King is in the field, we are called to open our hearts, pursue justice, and invite G-d into every corner of our lives.
May this season bring clarity, peace, and prosperity and the ultimate blessing, the coming of Moshiach now!
