וַיֹּ֥אמֶר אֲלֵיהֶ֖ם עִבְרִ֣י אָנֹ֑כִי וְאֶת־יְהוָ֞ה אֱלֹהֵ֤י הַשָּׁמַ֙יִם֙ אֲנִ֣י יָרֵ֔א אֲשֶׁר־עָשָׂ֥ה אֶת־הַיָּ֖ם וְאֶת־הַיַּבָּשָֽׁה׃
Lalu ia berkata kepada mereka, “Aku orang Ibrani, dan aku takut akan Yang Mahakekal, Allah langit, yang menjadikan laut dan daratan.”
Depths of Yonah
Moreover, why would Hashem make a series of extraordinary miracles such as with the fish and then later with the Kikayon for a petty sinner? Finally, Yonah describes himself while in the throes of a ferociously intense conversation during a fierce storm as “Ivri Anochi VeEt Hashem Elokei HaShamayim Ani Yarei,” “I am a Hebrew and the God of the Heavens I fear” (Yonah 1:9).
Depths of Yonah
Conclusion - Two Great Lessons
The first lesson that emerges from this exchange between Yonah and the sailors is how a Jew should define himself. As Rav Aharon Lichtenstein mentioned on numerous occasions, we do not define ourselves as an attorney, physician, or even a rabbi. We are and should define ourselves as Yonah did: “Ivri Anochi VeEt Hashem… Ani Yarei,” “I am a Jew and I fear Hashem” (Yonah 1:9).
The first lesson that emerges from this exchange between Yonah and the sailors is how a Jew should define himself. As Rav Aharon Lichtenstein mentioned on numerous occasions, we do not define ourselves as an attorney, physician, or even a rabbi. We are and should define ourselves as Yonah did: “Ivri Anochi VeEt Hashem… Ani Yarei,” “I am a Jew and I fear Hashem” (Yonah 1:9).