Closing Message - Rav Steven
View video version here.
What is a miracle?
Rav Soloveitchik notes that in the Al Hanisim / Biymei Matityahu that we say in our Shemoneh Esrei and Birkat Hamazon throughout the days of Hanukkah, we never mention the word nifla’ot – wondrous, supernatural deeds, instead referring to the military victory and rededication of the Beit Hamikdash as a nes, a miracle.
By contrast, when we light the hanukkiah each night and recite the prayer of Hanerot Hallalu, we say that we light these lights “al hanisim v’al hanifla’ot” - for the miracles AND for the supernatural wondrous occurrences.
So Rav Soloveitchik differentiates between a pele - a wondrous supernatural deed which cannot be described according to the laws of the universe as we know it, and a nes - a miracle, something which is rare, uncommon, exceptional, something that bears witness to God's presence in the world while not defying the laws of nature and the laws of the world as we know it.
The notion of a single cruse of oil lasting eight days against the laws of physics, that is a pele, something wondrous beyond the laws of nature. Few are the generations that ever behold such a thing.
The military victory was unprecedented and extraordinary. Indeed, the rededication of the Beit Hamikdash at that moment against all odds was miraculous, it was a nes. Nisim, miracles, happen around us – if we recognize them as such.
In these days of Hanukkah 5781 – 2020, I feel we are bearing witness to a nes, a miracle: the miraculous development of the vaccines which will, God willing, guide us towards an end to the COVID-19 pandemic. There's still such a hard road ahead. To save life we need to continue to be as vigilant and cautious as ever, and our Bayit is committed to remaining so in partnership with each and every one of you.
But we now begin to have the opportunity to be a part of ending the pandemic with these vaccines, a testament to the Divine channeling of wisdom, creativity and intensive work through the human hands of scientists and doctors and the willing partners participating in the trials and helping move this project forward at every level.
May this nes, may this miracle, guide us forward to health, and may we feel its light shining upon us this Hanukkah. Hanukkah sameah!
Reminder to all to take good care of ourselves and each other. Try to do something specific today that strengthens you, and something else that strengthens someone else.
