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True enough. But what is the greatest miracle of all? Certainly, a prime contender for that title would be Kriat Yam Suf, the Splitting of the Sea described in our sedra. Not only did it have spectacular "special effects" – thunder, lightning, a tepestuous east wind – but it produced amazing results: the liberation of Am Yisrael, & the destruction of Egypt’s army.
But something here mystifies me: I understand why it took a miracle to make the water rise into walls on either side of Bnei Yisrael; that defies gravity & so goes starkly against nature. But why did it take a special Divine command & Moshe’s out-stretched arm to return the sea to its former state? That should have been an easy, natural, automatic act, for water always seeks its own level.
In fact, if one looks carefully at the p’sukim dealing with the "rise and fall" of the water, it takes just one verse (14:21) to actually split the sea, but TWO verses (14:27-28) to bring the sea back to "normal!" Why??
I suggest that the Torah is telling us - & Hashem was specifically teaching Bnei Yisrael – that there is no such thing as "normal" in the universe. Whatever events occur in life – despite their seeming adherence to science, despite their consistent regularity – cannot be taken for granted. Do not assume for a moment that just because the sun rose yesterday it will rise again today; do not assume that gravity always "works;" and do not assume that a slave people, weak & dispirited, are incapable of over-throwing the most powerful regime in
the land, & rising to become history’s preeminent nation.
Rav Dessler, in his classic treatise Michtav M’Eliyahu, makes the case that it is the Mahn, & not Kriat Yam Suf, that wins 1st prize in the miracle sweepstakes. Not only because it embodied numerous "mini-miracles" within it – tasting like virtually any food at all, dropping right at one’s doorstep, etc. – but because it fed an entire people for 40 full years. He compares it to fruit – which literally grows on trees! –
which he calls the "modern-day miracle of Mahn."
This Sunday night-Monday is Tu B’Shvat. That’s the perfect time to acknowledge all the great miracles that surround us each day. By appreciating the gifts which Hashem sends our way on a regular basis, we can perhaps discern what may be G-d’s greatest miracle of
all: The return of the People of Israel to the Land of Israel forever.
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 8- "Answering Questions on the Kuzari's Proof from Mass Revelation
Rabbis in Midrash
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Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 9 - "Seeing is Believing" (parag. 21-30)
These paragraphs elaborate on the theme that seeing and knowing is better than any attempt to prove logically, and begins explaining the difference between Israel and gentiles.
Ein Aya Various Universal Stages of the Geula Process
Rav Kook examines the various stages of redemption, explaining how (in addition to the obvious oft-mentioned stages of ingathering the exiles, reviving the Hebrew language, army, state etc.) the messianic dream of world prosperity, the State of Israel and world unity can and are realistically and logically gradually coming true.
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 8- "Answering Questions on the Kuzari's Proof from Mass Revelation
How do we know that the "claim" of mass revelation to 2,000,000 witnesses at Mt. Sinai is really true? This important class answers all of the questions skeptics ask about this claim of the Kuzari.
Ein Aya Armies Still Necessary for Balance & the War Against Wars
Rav Kook explains why the world was originally divided into the various seemingly contradicting ideologies and cultures, in order to develop each one respectively. Swords or armies symbolize how each respective ideology defends themselves, as well as deters their opposing ideologies and cultures. On the other hand, the messianic era will be one of peace, and Rav Kook explains the transition to that stage, which mankind is already undergoing.
The Land of Israel LGBT'S IN ISRAEL
The question was asked, how can one make Aliyah with the LGBT parades?
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 7 - Five Accumulative Proofs of G-d
As a preparation for the Kuzari's classic proof of G-d from the mass-revelation at Sinai, we start here with 5 other directions to strengthen our belief which also contribute to what the Kuzari will present as well.
Ein Aya Muscle & Meaning: The Dual Nature of Gevurah (Physical Strength)
Is physical strength and fitness a necessity or an ideal? Although it if often totally overlooked among topics of Judaism, Rav Kook writes that it clearly is also a necessity to deter the many enemies of Israel, but even in Y'mot HaMashiach, in the Messianic era, to a certain extent, it's ideal continues even after our enemies will have been finished off.
