וַיֹּ֥אמֶר אֲלֵיהֶ֖ם עִבְרִ֣י אָנֹ֑כִי וְאֶת־יְהוָ֞ה אֱלֹהֵ֤י הַשָּׁמַ֙יִם֙ אֲנִ֣י יָרֵ֔א אֲשֶׁר־עָשָׂ֥ה אֶת־הַיָּ֖ם וְאֶת־הַיַּבָּשָֽׁה׃
At sinabi niya sa kanila: “Ako ay isang Hebreo, at ang Walang-Hanggan, ang Diyos ng langit, ang aking kinatatakutan, na siyang gumawa ng dagat at ng tuyong lupa.”
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).