Page 36 - HaMizrachi #15 2019 Chanuka USA

Rabbi Azarya Berzon

What is a Miracle?

he idea of a miracle is prob- and its Laws, has the power to change us to the abyss of a bottomless pit, to
lematic. From a philosophical Nature and bring about miracles. the point of destruction, not only of
Tpoint of view, the foundation ourselves but of the world around us
of all science is the Law of Causality. Nevertheless, the real problem is not too.
This law states that whatever happens the possibility of miracles, but rather,
in the world of Nature is a result of a the necessity of miracles. Doesn’t the G-d is very tolerant with us. He waits
cause which both preceded it, and concept of miracle imply that G-d’s patiently, as we say on the Yamim
which brought about the effect in a intervention in a miraculous manner Noraim, ֹובּו ׁש ְּ ב א ָּ ל ֶ א ת ֵּ מ ַ ה תֹומ ְּ ב ץ ּ ֹפ ְ חַי אלֹ י ִּ כ
necessary way. The laws of Nature is a result of some mistake or failure – G-d does not desire the demise of
have a power unto themselves. What- in the mechanics of Nature, i.e. in the the wicked, but rather his repentance.
ever is, is a result of a previous cause. original plan of Creation? Sometimes though, human beings go
And that cause, in turn, is the result Our belief in miracles is based on too far, and G-d will not stand by and
of a cause that preceded it. And so on. another belief – freedom of choice. It allow history to take its course. If He
This chain of cause and effect doesn’t is this principle which underlies the were to do so, His purpose in Creation
would be undermined. The underlying
lend itself to change; it is not subject tenet of schar veOnesh (reward and purpose of nes – miracle – is to uphold
to alteration. All of science is based on punishment). What sense would pun- the possibility of the fulfillment of the
this principle. ishment and reward make if man’s teleological goal of Creation. We can
actions are determined, if everything
It is worth noting that the British phi- never know when a situation will arise
losopher, David Hume, questioned we do is a result of a previous cause to precipitate a miracle. But we do
which makes our actions necessary?
the principle of causality. He demon- know that the purpose of the miracle
strated that the principle of Cause The belief in Free Will is based not is to stop Man before he goes too far.
and Effect cannot claim for itself any only on our Torah, but on our intu- Chazal constantly emphasize that the
scientific, empirical proof. Empirical ition as well. We experience freedom ultimate purpose of G-d’s Creation
evidence can merely demonstrate that of choice on a daily basis, constantly. was and is Klal Yisrael. The Divine
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Event A took place before Event B, but For there to be Free Choice, we must purpose is achieved through the one
cannot establish that Event A caused be imperfect. If we were perfect, there people who proclaim the existence
Event B. could be no Good and Evil. It is only of the One G-d. Without this people,
because of our imperfection that there could be no universe. Hence,
Were we to accept the empirical responsibilities and challenges are
argument and reject the principle of imposed upon us to achieve higher in the case of Chanukah – and other
Cause and Effect, we could suggest levels of existence. instances throughout history – the
a simple understanding of miracles. miracle of the victory was necessary to
There are no definite laws of Nature. If we are to be challenged, we must save Klal Yisrael and facilitate the ful-
fillment of the Divine plan.
A miracle is any event that is a result exist in an imperfect universe. Because
of G-d’s intervention in the course of the universe is imperfect, our role in it
events. is to metaken (correct or perfect) our- 1 See Brachot 6a. G-d’s Tefillin contain the
selves and it. verse “Who is like you Israel? One nation in
However, even if we accept the clas- the Land.” Also see Rashi’s commentary at
sical approach to Causality and the Now we can understand the neces- the beginning of Bereishit.
Laws of Nature, we can still main- sity for miracles. Since G-d created us
tain that the philosophical problem is as imperfect beings, there is a need, Rabbi Azarya Berzon has over 4,800
really not severe. To one who believes on occasion, for Him to intervene shiurim online and has served as a
in G-d as Creator, it is simple enough through the medium of a miracle. Scholar-in-Residence in many communities
to say that He, the Author of Nature Human freedom can sometimes lead worldwide

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