A Soulful Journey

The natural course of events is when water comes from the heavens above and bread from the ground.  In the exodus from Egypt, however, all things were reversed - bread came from the heavens and water came from the rock.  -Rabbi Louis Jacobs

 At the end of the 18th century, in midst of persecution and impoverishment, Rabbi Nachman of Bratzlav, one of Judaism's most profound philosophers, cried out: "Jews! Never despair! But why should Jews not despair, when their history is so drenched in blood and tears? Because miracles -- hard facts that remain wondrous and incredible  -- are always possible. But how do  miracles become possible? We make them possible."

Ben Gurion: “In Israel in order to be a realist you must believe in miracles.”  - October 5, 1956 Interview on CBS After the city of Safed was liberated, Yigal Alon made this comment, "After the war of Independence, (Yom Ha-atzmaut) one of the leading Rabbis of Safed said of the Palmach that there were two events that made this moment possible, a  miracle and action.  What was the action?  The many people reciting Psalms for victory.  And what was the miracle?  That the Palmach was successful." We are partners with God and humanity.  That means we pray and work for justice and freedom at the same time.

Reb Bunim of Pesischa once asked: “Why do we not recite the blessings  of She’asa nisssim l’avoteinu  thanking God for miracles for our ancestors on Passover the way we do on Hanukkah? His answer was that Hanukkah resulted from military victories led by armies and the Jews were saved on Purim because Esther endangered her own life. Lest the salvation be attributed solely to human endeavor and sacrifice, we need to remember that ultimately God’s intervention led to the defeat of the Greeks and Haman. It was entirely the work of God the story as it unfolds in the Passover Haggadah does not refer to any human being. Look at our past and see the hand of God.

Allow me to tell you a story. The 200 th  anniversary of the death of the Besht was in 1960. He was born in 1700 and died in 1760. Those were the days when American Jews associated Hasidism with Martin Buber who was kind of glamorous and esoteric.  So in 1960 the Jewish Welfare Board sent out directives to all Synagogues and Rabbis and cultural committees urging them to observe the anniversary, suggesting that they are read Martin Buber and organize appropriate programs. One congregation in Washington, Temple Sinai, whose Rabbi then was Balfour Brickner…took the directive very seriously.  Balfour decided not only to read about Hasidism. He would find the nearest authentic living Hasidic Rebbe and invite him to give a lecture at his congregation. After a thorough search discovered that the nearest living authentic Hasidic Rebbe was living in Baltimore and his name was Rabbi Hertzberg. He asked him to lecture at Temple Sinai.  “You can tell us about Has...

When war broke out between Arabs and Jews in Israel the great tzaddikim prayed for a miracle.  When the Israelis army arrived on the scene twelve hours later the miracle was realized.  - Rabbi Dow Marmur What su a miracle? Is it in the eye of the beholder or in God's capable hands?

Hasidic sage, Mendel of Kotzk, used to say, "Whoever believes in miracles is a fool; whoever does not is an atheist." To avoid being caught in this paradox we are taught to examine the meaning of the word "miracle."  The Hebrew word for miracle is nes which also means "sign."  Sign is the English root word for sign -ificant.  To acknowledge the significance of events is to discover the meaning of godliness in time.  Miracles did not happen and do not happen when people stare at the world with folded arms; miracles happen when people call upon their divine gifts of courage, competence and faith.  - Norman Patz We are the arms of God.

Said Rav Papa to Abaye, "How is it that the earlier generations had miracles performed for them but for us miracles are not performed?  It cannot be because of study because in the time of Rabbi Yehuda, all they studied was N ezikin, the tractate of damages, while we study all six orders.  Yet, when Rabbi Yehuda took off a single shoe to pray for rain during a drought, rain came.  We, on the other hand, torment ourselves and cry loudly yet no notice is taken of us!" He replied, "The earlier generations used to be ready to sacrifice themselves for the sanctification of God's name while we do no such thing."  - Berachot 20a Our priorities have changed and accordingly, so has God's.

Two wise Babylonians became intoxicated on the holiday of Purim.  One of the them, Rabba, killed Rabbi Zeira.  When he became sober, Rabba realized what he had done.  Rabba pleaded with the Almighty who responded to his heartfelt prayer by reviving Zeira. The next year Rabba invited Rabbi Zeira to his Purim feast.  Zeira politely declined saying, "A miracle does not always occur." A miracle occurred today.  You are alive, breathing and capable of doing almost anything.  That miracle may recur or not.  So live fully today.  And when it is over, give thanks to the One.

“There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle.” ―  Albert Einstein

“God could effect miracles without assistance; the rabbi generally had to rely upon prayer or merits.” Jacob Neusner Our rabbis, sages and tzaddikim are our teachers but the miraculous is solely the province of God. Rely only on Him.

Rabbah and Rav Zeira feasted together on Purim.  They drank and drank until both were saturated with alcohol when Rabbah arose and cut Rav Zeira’s throat.  The next day Rabbah prayed for him and Rav Zeira was resurrected. The next year he asked, “Will you honor me and come to the Purim feast with me?” Rav Zeira replied, “A miracle does not always happen.”  - Megilla 7b A lesson to the wise: miracles do happen but we have to live responsibly.

The story is told of the sudden warning of an immanent ten foot flood which would shortly envelop the entire earth.  Immediately, the Pope issued a decree for all "Christian souls" to start praying for a  miracle.  While the Christians occupied themselves with getting God's attention, the Jews started to learn how to live under water. Do not depend on miracles.

"The greatest merit of the prophet Elijah," he said, "is that he fought the kings and crushed the idols, the people did not react to a miracle but instead cried: God is our God."   -unknown author The real test of faith is not believing what people do but in the invisible Hand that moves all things.  God.

"There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle."   Einstein

"A Jew who does not believe in miracles is not a realist"                         --David Ben-Gurion

When the great Rabbi Israel Baal Shem Tov saw a misfortune threatening Jews it was his custom to go to a certain place Forest to meditate. There he would light a fire, say a special prayer, and miracle would be accomplished in misfortune averted.   Later, when his disciple, the celebrated Maggid of Mezritch  had occasion, for the same reason, to intercede with heaven, he  would go to the same place in forest and say, “Master of universe, listen! I do not know how to light the fire but I am still able to say the prayer.”  And again the miracle would be accomplished. Still later, Rabbi Moshe Leib of Sasov, in order to save his people once more, would go into the forest and say, "I do not know how to light the fire. I do not know the prayer but I know the place and this must be sufficient.” It was sufficient and the miracle was accomplished. Then it fell to Rabbi Israel of Rizhin to overcome misfortune.   Sitting in his armchair, his head in his hands, he ...

"Great is the day of rain, as great as the day when heaven and earth were created." -Taanit 7b It is said that "beauty is in the eye of the beholder."  Is this not also true for miracles?

  "In Israel if you don't believe in miracles, you're not a realist." 
-David ben Gurion

"In Israel , in order to be a realist, you must believe in miracles." - David Ben Gurion