Perashat Sav 5776

There are some people, that for them to believe in G-d, they require to see an open miracle that will be so obvious in order for them to believe that G-d exists. Even better, if G-d Himself will come and talk to them openly, then they will believe that He exists. Yet others, no matter how many miracles they will personally witness and experience, they will still try to explain them in a natural and scientific way. This has been attempted many times by scientists and historians in order to explain many of the miracles and wonders that occurred in Egypt and at the heel of the liberation of our forefathers from slavery. Some of those “scientific” explanations are so far fetched, stretching the bounds of science the way we know it, that you have scientists and historians saying that certain phenomena in nature occur only every five or ten thousand years,  and coincidentally, it happened to occur at the exact time that the Israelites were crossing the sea and lived in Egypt. No one can prove these “scientists” and historians right or wrong, since no one will be alive to witness whether the phenomena in question  will, or will not, repeat itself and, thereby prove them wrong or right.

Perashat Sav, as it discusses the fire of the Altar, states: אש תמיד תוקד על המזבח לא תכבה״" - “A permanent fire shall remain aflame on the Altar; it shall not be extinguished”. How could it be that the fire was always burning? The Midrash observes that the Altar of the Tabernacle that Moshe built was used for 116 years - 39 years in the Wilderness, 14 in Gilgal, 13 in Nob, and 50 years in Gibeon. During all those years, the Altar fire burned continuously, yet its thin copper layer never melted and its wooden structure was never charred! Is it possible that the fire was never extinguished? Miraculously, it was not. We also read that the Kohanim had to place enough wood on the fire to keep it burning at all times, including the entire night. So was it a miracle, or was it the wood placed continuously on the fire that kept the fire burning? 

It is known that when G-d created the world He wanted the world to run based on all the natural laws that He set in motion. These are the laws of Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Thermodynamics Relativity etc. G-d made a “deal” with nature that certain miracles will take place that might defy Nature, yet appear as though they conform with natural law. All the miracles that occurred in Egypt are indeed described in the Torah as occurring though the forces of nature, such as the wind, a storm, etc. This is the wish of the A-mighty; that miracles occur through the natural order of things. After the open miracles recorded in the Torah, many other miracles occurred - and continuously occur - however, in our time, they are much more concealed than in the past. 

We just celebrated the Holiday of Purim. A holiday that is known by the concealed miracles par excellence. The name of Hashem, is not mentioned even once in the Megillah, and the narrative and plot of the story appear to be all natural and consequential. Nothing in that chronicle appears miraculous - yet we know full well that every step was miraculous and inexplicable; the marriage of Esther to King Ahashverosh, the plot to kill Ahashverosh that Mordekhay discovered and was given credit for, the insomnia of the King, the visit of Haman to the King the next morning, the parading of Mordekhay by Haman, the prostrating of Haman at the bed of Esther, and many other events in the story are ironically clear, yet concealed, miracles. 

We acknowledge three times a day in the Amida - the Silent Meditation, “for your miracles and wonders that are every day with us.” How many of us we are able to see and identify these miracles and wonders that occur to us on a daily basis? Very few of us can recognize these things, since our eyes are covered with a natural curtain that prevent us to see, and our brain to realize, that a miracle is occurring. We do not perceive the miracle; we only understand the natural phenomenon. It is only if we believe in the active involvement of G-d in nature, if we feel spiritual enough, if we approach G-d with complete and sincere faith, that we can see, perceive and experience those miracles and wonders that occur to us every day of our lives, even as individuals. 

As a nation and People, those miracles and wonders are certainly more open - yet many people are unfortunately, still blinded to them. For a nation that was exiled for almost 2000 years, persecuted, expelled, wronged, oppressed, terciated and almost completely annihilated, to resurrect and return to their land, and establish an independent and sovereign country that has become the leader in many areas of human endeavor, is nothing short of miraculous and wondrous. The State of Israel, is a country envied by many nations and has survived many wars against all odds.  She  is constantly approached by superpowers in the world seeking her help. As a People, the Jews have prospered in every country that they have lived in, in significantly much greater proportions than any other nation or people.  If we don’t see that as miraculous, then we are certainly blinded by our eyelids, brain membrane or fat around our hearts. 

Greater miracles and wonders will occur even as we face an uncertain world; a world of terrorism, moral relativity, political correctness, injustice and anti-Semitism. We are always advised by the pilot or stewardess when we fly, to, “fasten your seat belts.” Allow me to me recommend to all of you to, “fasten your seat belts,” for you ain’t seen nothing yet”.