Parashat Va'era: "Small and big Miracles"

 Seen in the Jewish Quarter of the Old City in Jerusalem

Photo: Miriam Woelke 

B"H

At the beginning of this week's Torah Parasha, Parashat VA'ERA, G - d informs Moshe that the forefathers Avraham, Yitzchak and Yaakov only new one of His names: E - L  SHAD - DAI. According to the Ramban (Nachmanides), G - d acts under the name of E - L SHAD - DAI when He causes a "minor" miracle. Meaning, a miracles not causing a change in nature. Instead, the miracle occurs in accordance with nature and, many times, people don't even notice it. The forefather did. They did notice smaller miracles when they were saved from famines or the worst enemies and didn't ask for THE big miracle where G - d appears like the super hero. 

Moshe, on the other hand, got to know G - d under the highest name: Y - H - V - H. According to the ZOHAR, this is the name G - d used when He created the universe. However, there are opinions that our forefathers knew all kinds of different names of G - d but didn't ask for anything else but E - L SHAD - DAI. They simply didn't see a need for a huge almighty G - d but rather lived their lives. 

In the times of Moshe, G - d appeared under a different name in order to change nature and let bigger miracles happen. Miracles the whole world would know about, as they were obvious for everyone. The "Ten Plagues", for instance or "Yetziat Mitzraim - The Exodus". The Man or Miriam's Well in the desert. Miracles we can not even imagine today, let alone grasp. 

However, until today we are making the mistake of searching for huge and visible miracles. G - d should act and show us something impressive and not only providing us with enough food. Instead of acknowledging and being grateful for smaller miracles happening to each of us on a daily basis, we are searching for a G - dly lottery win. Another splitting of the sea instead of thanking G - d for granting us another day of life or not to be run over by a car. For going into the supermarket and buying some food instead of sitting in the street begging. 

Where is our appreciation today ? In the days of Internet, Smartphones and Youtube ? We are striving for the perfect Internet speed, more technology and a convenient life but what we don't see are all those tiny little miracles happening to us every day. Surfing through Facebook won't bring us satisfaction and happiness but sitting down and thinking about life and how everything somehow worked out and makes sense, does. When we want to make a phone call, we don't need the latest iPhone but any phone. Even the one for a few Shekels or Dollars. The same applies to miracles: I don't need the most gigantic miracle when a little money for a meal is enough.

Chanukkah Miracle

B”H  

Chanukkah everywhere we look. No matter if secular or religious, Jews all over the world love to light Chanukkah candles. 

More than 2000 years ago, G – d caused a miracle by letting the kosher oil of the Menorah last for eight days instead of only one day. Therefore, Chanukkah stands for the miracle of the oil and not necessarily for the success of the Maccabim against the Greeks. 

Miracle, Miracle … Let’s admit. Every Chanukkah, we are all waiting for our own personal miracle in life. It doesn’t matter in what area of our lives but it is this particular holiday giving us hope. And from my personal experience I can say that, sometimes, Chanukkah miracles are really happening. 

Chanukkah Samaech – Happy Chanukkah and that G – d may grant little miracles to each one of us.

Blessing for Miracles

B”H 

The Talmud Tractate Berachot 54a teaches: 

“One who sees a place where miracles were performed on behalf of the Jewish people recites the blessing “Baruch … she asa Nissim le’Avoteinu ba’Makom ha’zeh – Blessed … Who performed miracles for our ancestors at this place - ברוך ... שעשה ניסים לאבותינו במקום הזה”. 

Rashi explains that such places would be the crossing point at the Red Sea or Jordan River. 

This is from the Mishna in Berachot and there is a difference between miracles performed before masses and individuals.

The small daily Miracles

Cartoon: fcitizen

B"H

The radio channel "Radio Kol Rega" asked for miracles in our times. However, this didn't happen in connection with the disastrous fire around Haifa but rather in general. The woman answering the radio's question live gave anything but the expected answer. It is Chanukkah and the radio speaker obviously expected something referring to the holiday. Nevertheless, the answer had nothing to do with Chanukkah.

Miracles don't always have to be those big miracles caused by G - d but we are also responsible for our own tiny miracles in life. It is already considered a miracle when someone has the strength to change his life. Not only complaining about the present life and dreaming about a change but actively causing a change.

How many times are we stuck into our daily rat trap and would love to escape and start something new. We keep on dreaming but are too afraid to give up our secure life in order to jump into any cold water. If we do, this is considered to be a miracle.

I found this answer quite an amazing although it may not be in such a religious sense. However, the bottom line is that we have to act and move our behinds in order to cause a change and don't keep on sitting around complaining and not moving to anywhere.

Miracles

B"H

The Jewish world is getting ready for tomorrow night, the Pessach (Passover) Seder night. However, at the moment, in a more materialistic sense because everyone is running around to get the groceries done.

But what about "Freedom" ? 

The Israelites left Egypt on the seventh day of Pessach. Did they really escape slavery by walking through the Red Sea? In a physical way "yes" because they were free to decide about their actions in life. The question comes up if this new physical freedom at the same times means "spiritual freedom" ? Kabbalistic literature considers the 40 years in the desert as a "spiritual cleansing" as well as a Tikun (soul rectification). The Israelites were free but still stuck in their slavery mentality.

Can you imagine that, for generations, your family including yourself have been told what to do ? There was no free life and for anything you had to ask for permission. Suddenly you are free. So, what do you do with your life ? Do you realize that there is a life at all and not only the whip of an Egyptian guard ?

And how about us today ? Are we free ?

We read the Haggadah in order to re - live the miracle of the Splitting of the Red Sea and that G – d took the Jews out of Egypt. How do Jews in the Diaspora (Galut) feel ? Are they ready to leave their Egypt and go to Israel ? While going through the Haggadah, we should ask ourselves how we live today and how does the Pessach event apply to us.

The Gemara (rabbinic discussions) in Talmud Pesachim 88a teaches us a saying of Rabbi Yochanan:

 

"The day of the ingathering of the exiles will be as momentous as the day when heaven and earth were created".

The Talmudic commentators Rashi and Maharsha explain:

G – d created heaven and earth out of NOTHING. Before the entire creation process there was nothing but Him. This is one of the great miracles of the creation of the entire universe and us. A creation out of nothing. The miracle of the final redemption will be so wondrous that it will be analogous to creation.

"Pessach Samech & Kascher" – A happy, healthy and kosher Passover !"

Photos: Kikar Shabbat

Miracles

B"H

In particular many parts of haredi society are very much into miracles. Some argue that Sephardic Jews are those being more superstitious than others. Nevertheless, when you talk to Haredim they always let you know about recent miracles. Sometimes in a very stereotype way:

"G - d has been performing a miracle for us by saving our (haredi) neighbourhoods from terrorist attacks because we keep the Mitzvot".

G - d created the universe in form of miracles; above nature as we understand it. The Rambam (Maimonides, 1135 - 1204) does not deny the existence of miracles and, as most of us know, the Rambam (Nachmanides, 1194 -1270) was very much into miracles. It was him explaining that the words of the Prophets such as Yeshayahu (Isiah) 11:6 are to be understood in a literal sense. Yes, there will be changes in the animal kingdom in the times of Meshiach. Other commentators state that the verse in Yeshayahu is nothing else but a metaphor standing for peace among the nations and the Jews.

In Chassidut, it is the Zaddik (righteous) having the power to perform miracles. But what really is a miracle and what is nature ? Don't we sometimes consider a certain occurence quickly as a miracle because it is just so unnatural and unbelievable ?

I think it was the Rambam saying that when G - d created the world, He already wove into each thing the potential to behave supernaturally. Example: When G - d created water, He invested with it the power to split, and this potential became reality when the Israelites left Egypt, as we will see in next week's Parashat Beshlach.

Various miracles only took place on a temporary basis. Once, and for a very short period of time. Afterwards the miracle was over, everything went back to normal (nature) and the incident never repeated itself.

The Talmud Tractate Pesachim 54a teaches us that ten things were created at twilight of the first Shabbat eve. Among others the Man (Manna), the donkey's mouth (see Parashat Balak) or the opening of the earth's mouth where Korach stood.

Meaning that those occurences didn't take place as a spontaneous miracle but had been planned from the time of creation; interwoven by G - d into His creation and waiting for the special moment to take place. "There is nothing new under the sun" (Kohelet - Ecclesiastes) hinting to G - d's involvement and plan.

It says that miracles do take place but the question is how we relate to them. Do we take everything literally and get excited or are (also) able to recognize the hidden miracles in the cause of nature interwoven by the creator ?

"I will be back soon" !

B"H

The grave of Rachel Imenu (Yaakov's wife).
You can enlarge the picture by clicking on it. The sticker on it (just a sercastic joke appearing on the computer) was "written by Rachel".

"I will be back soon !"
Rachel.





Rachel's grave near Bethlehem (Beit Lechem)


Not too many Ashkenazic Haredim go for the "Rachel Imenu War Story". They themselves say that this is more for the Sepharadim, as they believe in all kinds of miracles.

It is said that during the last Gaza War, a group of Israeli soldiers wanted to enter a house in Gaza, as a woman, dressed in white, appeared and warned them not to go inside. The Hamas had set up a trap.

The soldiers went to the next house and, miraculously, the same woman appeared. Again, she warned them and the soldiers finally asked for her name: "Rachel Imenu - Your mother Rachel", she responded.

True or not true ? Who knows ?
However, the photomontage is funny !