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By Rabbi Shlomo Ezagui 
Illusutration AI generated by Perplexity 

Many people seek to personalize their faith—a positive endeavor—and strive to understand and conceptualize their belief and trust in an invisible God as thoroughly as possible. Maimonides believes that science might help us connect with the intangible and observe the spiritual. I strongly feel that quantum mechanics is a good place to start.

At its core, quantum mechanics explores the hidden energies and patterns that compose and animate our universe. It reveals that beneath the familiar world of objects and matter lies a realm where everything is merely energy — intelligent energy — constantly shifting and interacting in ways that challenge our everyday understanding.

Imagine watching a remote-controlled toy car. Over time, you notice it tends to follow specific patterns, and you begin to predict where it will go next. Most of the time, your predictions are correct, but occasionally, the car surprises you with an unexpected turn. This is similar to how science works: it observes the world, recognizes patterns, and uses them to make predictions. However, science, despite its power, cannot explain why these patterns exist as they do or what causes the occasional surprises. Science has no way of connecting the unusual, exceptional events to the regular patterns. It explains the “how”—to some extent—but the “why” and/or how to influence these “surprises” often remains a mystery.

Quantum mechanics takes us even deeper into a world far stranger than toy cars or atoms. At the quantum level, we don’t see solid objects at all. Instead, we find a dance of invisible particles and waves flickering in and out of existence. These aren’t things we can see directly, but we know they’re there because of the effects they produce, like a breeze moving the leaves on a tree. Physicists refer to these underlying energies as “quantum fields,” which fill all of space and form the foundation for everything we experience.

One of the most mind-bending ideas in quantum theory is that matter and energy are two sides of the same coin; in fact, they are essentially the same thing. Thanks to Einstein’s famous equation, E=mc², we know that what seems like solid matter is actually just energy in a different form.  As the Torah suggests, when God allowed a ‘portion’ of Himself to become the universe, congealing into physical, measurable, touchable dimensions, this world came into being.

This means that you, me, the sun, and the moon are all made from the same fundamental energy, shaped by the rules of quantum mechanics into the world we see around us, and fundamentally, God, energy, and the universe are all made of the same “stuff.”

Within this framework, physicists have identified only four fundamental forces—gravity, electromagnetism, the strong nuclear force, and the weak nuclear force—that control everything in the universe.

They’ve also discovered that particles exist in three different energy states, which affect how they interact and combine to form the matter and energy we observe. Surprisingly, these simple principles are enough to explain how the entire cosmos works.

These two simple numbers, three and four, precisely represent the mechanism and building blocks found in God’s ineffable name, a four-letter name further broken down into its last three letters.

For many people, these scientific discoveries, or better said, revelations, reflect spiritual ideas about the unity and interconnectedness of all things. The idea that everything comes from an unseen, fundamental energy aligns with our religious teachings about a single source or consciousness behind reality—the Holy One Blessed Be He, Hashem Echad. Even among scientists who may not consider themselves spiritual, there’s a sense of awe at the elegance and mystery of the universe’s design.

It’s pretty interesting that in theoretical physics, there’s debate over whether Schrödinger waves are real or merely mathematical tools that help us better understand our world with our minds and instruments.  In other words, even atheist scientists acknowledge the existence of fundamental, unseen forces that shape reality!

Ultimately, quantum mechanics does not just give us new technology or a more profound understanding; it inspires us to marvel at the profound unity of existence. It reminds us that we are not separate from the universe, but rather expressions of its deepest energies. And while science may not answer every question about why things are the way they are, it provides us with a reason to pause, reflect, and appreciate the beautiful teachings of our Holy Torah.

The main point is that God, who is the source of everything, and as He Almighty manifests Himself, becomes the underlying force of the entire universe — including you, me, the sun, and the moon. God is all around us. God is in all of us.

Take a moment or two to appreciate this incredible concept.

Here is a powerful lesson from all this.

Many people go through life feeling abandoned, invisible, and unsupported, often carrying burdens alone when those they trusted turned away. However, even during your loneliest moments, you were never truly alone—God was present, not just watching from afar but right beside you in silence, tears, and struggles.

“Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the LORD your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you.” Deuteronomy 31:6

This promise is not temporary but an everlasting covenant. God’s presence does not depend on your performance; He is with you whether you are strong and confident or broken and scared. Acting as if God is walking with you does not mean you won’t face difficulties; it means you won’t face them alone. The burden of figuring everything out alone is lifted, and fears of failure diminish because the outcome is in God’s hands. If He is with you, you have all you need for the journey ahead. “The Lord is with me, and I shall not fear”. Adon Olam

Just as a child walks differently when holding a parent’s hand—unworried about direction and feeling protected—when someone understands that God is always with us, they walk with a deep, quiet confidence, knowing they are held and led by the One who knows the way. You are here for a reason. You were created with a purpose, and your existence shows that your destiny is real.

When God walks with you, you can move forward even when the path is unclear, speak truth even when your voice shakes, and stand firm even when life tries to push you down—not because of your own strength, but because you are walking with the One who is strength itself.

Rabbi M. M Schneerson once said that his father, Rabbi Levi Yitzchak, was able to stand up to the entire wicked Stalin regime only because he understood and lived by the directives of God and felt it wasn’t him as an individual standing up to Stalin, but that he was merely a channel for the powerful will of the Creator, Master of the World.

Living this way means letting God’s presence be your foundation and fuel.

Faith isn’t about feeling; it’s about walking with confidence, even when your senses say otherwise, trusting that even in silence or pain, He’s near and guiding your steps. You may not have all the answers, but you have His presence all the time.

The Rebbe, Rabbi M.M. Schneerson, quoting Yalkut Shimoni, taught: Before the final redemption, “Moshiach will stand on the roof of the Beis Hamikdash and proclaim, ‘Humble ones, your redemption has arrived. If you do not believe — see the light shining upon you.’”

Now more than ever, that illuminating light is present for all who choose to see it.

* * *

Rabbi Shlomo Ezagui, director of Chabad of Palm Beach, Florida, since 1987, has authored two books: Maimonides Advice for the 21st Century and A Spiritual Soul Book, and is now working on a third book, Physics of the Mystics. Additionally, Rabbi Ezagui regularly contributes to his blog on the Times of Israel. Find him online at RabbiShlomoEzagui.com 

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