From: br042@cleveland.freenet.edu
Subject: Re: Question to Miracle Analysts
Organization: Migdal Torah - The Jewish Learning Center
Date: Sat, 11 Apr 92 23:16:52 -0400


In article <15919@bunny.GTE.COM> sgutfreund@gte.com writes:
>In article <1992Apr10.155119.5846@tc.cornell.edu>, bai@msiadmin.cit.cornell.edu (Dov Bai-MSI Visitor) writes:
>|> I have a question for competent miracle analysts:

I do not fit this despcription, sp you may not want to hear from me....
but I couldn't resist putting in my $.02.
 
>|> 	Do you consider Arafat's plane crash a miracle ? I mean the
>|> fact that only he survived and all the other died. Is it a sign from
>|> G-d that Israel should consider negotiating peace with him ?
>
>No, Afterall, Hitler had numerous close escapes with attempts
>on his life.

What is a miracle?  It is a happening that demonstrates Divine Providence
(i.e. that the Al-mighty is the master, director and sole controller of
creation).  Sometimes this message is made clear via the suspension
of the laws of nature, (that G-d commits himself to function under, or
perhaps better said) via which He inter-relates with mankind.  The exodus
from Egypt was one such demonstartion and the 10 plages in Egypt were
specificaly to demonstarte that concept to all the world.  

Other times D.P.  can be seen by the probabilities of a given event
occurring, such as in the six day war.  In this category would fall
Hitler's (YSH'V) close escapes from death and perhaps Arafat's (YSH'V)
survival last week.  Not clearly a MIRACLE, but non the less, an indication
of Divine Providence.  

There are yet other "viewers" (i.e. methods of viewing) of D.P. and they
are History, Survival of the Jewish People, and what should be called, the
Miracle of Natuer itself.  All these call out to the rational, unbiased,
intellectually honest mind, that Hashem Hu Elokim (G-d, He is Supreme
Power).

(Asbestos long black coat ON) 

Does this mean G-d wanted Hitler to survive?  And Arafat too?  Yes!  For
the time being or as long as He so wishes it to be.  Unfortunately for us
(or fortunately, pending on how clearly one comprehends, or trusts, G-d's
motives in His orchestrating world events).  For if G-d did not desire (and
therfore MAKE) these events to be, could G-d not have taken Hitler's life?
To all those who say G-d _COULD_NOT_ stop Hitler, I ask, how much "Divine
effort" (an oximoron at best) would it have taken to suspend Hitler's heart
muscle for a few moments?  G-d's non-direct-intervention (if that is what
one would wish to call it) is no _MORE_ understandable, than accepting
this as His direct manipulation of events.  Think about it.  (Flame away,
but no guaranty of a reply untill after Pesach).

Anyway, this is a very sensitive subject for anyone who has had to live
through the Holocost and/or lose relatives (my father O'H was the sole survivor
of his entire family) due to Hitler YSH'V, or anyone who has had to deal
with the question of, why me or what does G-d want from me?  

May it be the will of the Al-mighty, that we merit to extract the primary
message of the Pesach Seder, Divine Providence - the foundation of Emunah,
which is why so much throughout Judaism is Zecher LeYetzias Metzraim
(commemoration of exodus) and thereby come to merit His sending the final
redemption speedily and in our days. Amen.


Avrohom Mordechai Alter    

alter@Freenet.cleveland.edu

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