אות - רכא

He mocked greatly those calendars — theirs and ours, to differentiate — which write the events and changes such as cold and heat, etc. And generally they do not accurately predict their words at all. He answered and said: If so, if they know — let them then say the changes that occur in the world every single day by itself. For on almost every single day there occur in the world very many changes — in one day there is cold and heat and rain and snow and wind and clear air, and similar endless changes that generally occur in one day. And who can accurately predict and know this? "How great are Your works, Hashem, how very deep are Your thoughts! A brutish man does not know, and a fool does not understand this" (Psalms 92:6–7) — through their external wisdoms all the changes that occur in one day. (And also in the astronomical books themselves it is explained that this matter of those calendars mentioned is not at all clear — as it is written at the end of the book "Nechmad veNa'im."[406] See there.)

406. RAK: Authored by Rabbi Baruch Kosover (passed away in 5542), one of the great disciples of Rabbi Menachem Mendel of Vitebsk. Famous primarily for his book "Amud HaAvodah."

I heard in his name that he spoke with a certain man who had confusions of faith. And Rabbainu, o.b.m., encouraged him and told him that it is brought that the entire creation of the work of Creation was only because Hashem Yisburach foresaw that there would be people who would have sufferings regarding the holy faith from the confusions and heretical thoughts that arise in their minds, the Merciful One protect us, and they would overcome those thoughts and strengthen themselves in faith. And only for this sake did Hashem Yisburach create all the work of Creation. And through these words that man was greatly strengthened always at every time when those confusions would come upon him. And likewise it is explained in the words of Rabbainu, o.b.m., several times[407] that the essence of Creation was in the merit of faith — as it is written (Psalms 33:4): "And all His work is in faith."