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FUNDAMENTAL CONCEPTS

Miracles

The Meaning of Nes: Why Earlier Generations Saw More Open Miracles

Part of Fundamental Concepts · 31:28

Unpacks the Hebrew word nes and its double meaning of "miracle" and "to elevate," opening with the Gemara's question of why the earlier generations experienced so many more open miracles than later ones do. Develops the Chassidic idea that nature and miracle are fundamentally the same revelation of Hashem, dressed differently, and that a miracle simply lifts the curtain that constant, familiar nature keeps drawn. Closes with the concept of nes malubash b'teva, the miracle hidden inside natural events, illustrated through Purim, everyday parnasah, and stories of the Baal Shem Tov's simple faith.

Audio Transcript
The Meaning of Nes: Why Miracles Happened More in Earlier Generations

Miracles, nisim. But we'll try to make it a little shorter because people want to leave. We know that the Hebrew word for the word miracles is nisim. The word nes means a miracle. The word nes also has another meaning. The word nes means to pick up. There's a pasuk that says, 讗专讬诐 谞讬住讬 注诇讬 讛专讬诐, I will pick up. A nes means like a flag or like a pole on top of the mountains. But the word nes means a pole, something that's picked up, something that's elevated. And there must be some connection between the idea of a miracle and the idea of picking up, of elevating. And that's what we have to discuss to see what is what is it that a miracle elevates? What does it pick up? There must be something there that a miracle picks up. And then there is another question that comes into everyone's mind, and that is why is it that we hear stories of years, years ago that there were a lot of miracles that took took place? We learn in the Chumash, we know that there are so many miracles took place, and later on in the Gemara so many miracles took place, and the later generations we don't see so many miracles. Why is it? Now in truth, the Gemara already asked that question. The Gemara says in Berachot, on 讚祝 讻', the Gemara says that Rav Pappa asked the question of Abaye, why is it that 讚讜专讜转 讛专讗砖讜谞讬诐, the earlier generations, 诪讬转专讞讬砖 诇讛讜 谞讬住讗, miracles used to happen to them, and 讗谞谉, we, 诇讗 诪讬转专讞讬砖 诇谉 谞讬住讗, to us miracles don't happen, why is it? So that's a question already asked in the time of the Gemara, that already at that time they looked at the earlier generations as if there more miracles used to take place than in his generation, which is later generations of the Gemara. And he answered him, the reason is because the earlier generations, the people from the earlier generations, would be 诪讜住专 谞驻砖 注诇 拽讚讜砖转 讛砖诐. They were people that would go on mesirut nefesh, they would give up their lives for the sanctification of Hashem name, Hashem's name. And that was the reason why miracles used to happen to them. While the 讗谞谉, he says we, we are not that great. We are not moser nefesh. We don't really go out of our way and go on mesirut nefesh to sanctify Hashem's name, and therefore miracles don't happen to us. Now we want to explain that, what is the connection between mesirut nefesh, giving up your life or going out of your way for the sanctification of Hashem's name, that that should be a reason for miracles to take place? So let's first just get into the idea of what miracles mean, and then we'll get back to this. We know that just to start off that the Akeidah writes, there's a sefer called Akeidah, he writes that there are two times of the year which are considered the beginning of the year. We know that the month of Tishrei is the beginning of the year. Everyone knows that Rosh Hashanah is the first day of Tishrei. We also know that sometimes we consider Nissan as the beginning of the year, the month of Nissan. Actually in Chumash, just a few parashiyot ago it says, 讛讞讚砖 讛讝讛 诇讻诐 专讗砖 讞讚砖讬诐 专讗砖讜谉 讛讜讗 诇讻诐 诇讞讚砖讬 讛砖谞讛, that this is the beginning of the year, that Nissan is the first month of the year. So the Akeidah explains that they're both true. Obviously, they're both true. There are two beginnings of the year because there are two two ways we count the year. There is a way to look at the year as far as the teva is concerned, the nature is concerned, and then we look at the year also as far as nissim are concerned. There are two 讛谞讛讙讜转, he says, there are two ways Hashem rules the world. He rules the world through nature, and he rules the world through miracles. And the beginning of the year for the nature is from the month of Tishrei, because that's when Hashem created the world. We know on Rosh Hashanah that's when Adam HaRishon, the first human being was created. That's the time of the creation. Nisan, we know, is the month of miracles. That's when there was Yetzias Mitzrayim, when the Jews left Mitzrayim, and it all took place through many many miracles. Actually the word Nisan, which is the name of the month, also comes from the word nes, which is miracle. And therefore he says that we count Nisan as the first month of the year, the beginning of the year, when we think about Hashem's behavior, Hashem's ruling of the world, controlling the world, when he performs miracles. Now it's we see that usually things happen naturally. Miracles don't happen so often. But nevertheless, from time to time miracles happen. So when is basically the Rosh Hashanah for miracles? It's on the first day of Nisan. The Rosh Hashanah of nature is from the first day of Tishrei. Because there are many different Rosh Hashanahs, as we know. As a matter of fact, today is also Rosh Hashanah. Today is 讞诪砖讛 注砖专 讘砖讘讟, so it's 专讗砖 讛砖谞讛 诇讗讬诇谞讜转, it's Rosh Hashanah of trees. So you have Rosh Hashanah for different things. The Gemara says there are a few Rosh Hashanahs, and then we Lubavitch know there's 专讗砖 讛砖谞讛 诇讞住讬讚讜转, which is of Kislev and a lot of Rosh Hashanah's. So there is Rosh Hashanah for teva, for nature, and Rosh Hashanah for miracles, for nissim, and that's Nisan. In other words, there is the way Hashem rules the world, there are two ways. There is sometimes He does miracles, most of the time it goes through nature.

Two Ways Hashem Runs the World: Nature Versus Miracle

Now the idea behind it is let's start by the explaining that we know that Hashem created the world, obviously. Not only did Hashem create the world once, the first time, beginning of creation, but Hashem also creates the world constantly, every moment. We say in davenen, 讛诪讞讚砖 讘讟讜讘讜 讘讻诇 讬讜诐 转诪讬讚 诪注砖讛 讘专讗砖讬转, that every day Hashem constantly renews the creation. Not only every day, but we know 转诪讬讚, constantly, every moment Hashem renews the creation. Hashem recreates the world again and again. So actually this moment, the reason the world exists here is because Hashem makes it happen. And in Tanya, he explains that it must be that way, there is no two ways about it, there's no other way. We can't say Hashem created the world once and then left it, and now it's run on its own, and he brings proof and examples that it can't be that way, and because we're short in time I won't go into the details, but the truth is that Hashem recreates the world every moment. Now if Hashem recreates the world every moment, that means Hashem makes it makes everything happen. When we say He recreates the world, when we look at the world, the world has laws of nature. So all these laws of nature are created and were created and are recreated by Hashem every moment. Now Hashem Himself is not limited to these laws of nature, it's obvious. If He's the one that created it, then He's not limited to it. When we make some even we as human beings, when we make something and we put a certain nature or whatever we will call it into the object we make, we who made it obviously are not limited to the thing that we made. If we're the maker, then we're not limited by what we made, if we made it. Hashem, who is the creator, is not limited by the creation, so He's not limited by the laws of nature. In other words, He doesn't have to make the world continue only according to the laws of nature if He's the one that made the laws of nature. It doesn't limit Him to the way He should behave. In other words, if He wants really, He could change and make things differently. Even if He would have created the world once and then it continues on its own, which is not true, but even if that would happen, He since He is the creator, He could come back one day if He wants and make things differently. Even if He put into the creation certain laws and certain things the way the world should go, work, and that's what we call nature, He is able, if He wants, later on to come and say, \"Today I want to make things happen differently.\" Certainly by the fact that He recreates the world every second, so who tells Him that He has to now, this moment, when He's creating the world again, that He has to continue creating the world with the laws of nature? Just to use an example, the law of nature is that when you walk on water, you'll sink, you'll drown. Who made that law? Who made that nature? Hashem did. Now who forces Him to continue it that way? When He continues the world now, He could do it whichever way He wants. He can make that a person should walk on water and not drown. I mean, He could do whatever He wants. The only thing is Hashem said that He decided, it's all because of His will, He decided He wants that the world should continue naturally, but He's definitely not limited to it. But it's something that He wanted. Using the terms of Chassidut, He was metzamtzem Himself, He contracted Himself to a position that the world should continue with the laws of nature, but He is definitely not limited to it. But because He wanted the world to go along along with the laws of nature and it continuously happens in the same way, so what does that do? That makes people forget that it's all run by Hashem. That's what happens. If you see things happen constantly the same way and there are certain laws what we call nature, and this is the way things go on and on and on for year after year after year, then people could forget and not realize that this all comes from Hashem. People say, \"Who says there is a God? Who says there's a creator? But there are laws of nature.\" Now, in truth, laws when we use the term \"laws of nature\", that doesn't describe how things happen. It's just using a word, but it doesn't explain. It's just maybe a description, but not an explanation. We say how come things happen this way? Well, that's the laws of nature. What does that mean? It's just instead of going through every detail saying, \"Well, the sun rises every morning and if you plant a seed it grows\" whatever it is, so we use one word. So we found one word that includes everything, that's the word \"nature\". But it doesn't explain, it doesn't explain how all this happens. Who makes it all happen? What do you mean nature makes it happen? Nature is just a word that describes what's happening. We seem to forget that all this is really from Hashem, and Hashem makes it happen, and the fact that it's like this now is because Hashem wants it now to be that way. And therefore, from time to time, when Hashem would perform a miracle, that was like a wake-up call. The purpose of a miracle is for us to realize that the world has a ba'al habayit, has a boss, has a person, has a being that created it and a being that controls it, and He is not limited to these laws that seem to be laws of nature. So whenever a miracle happens, what it makes us think is, \"Oh, obviously it's not so simple. There must be somebody who is in charge.\" For instance, by Avraham Avinu, it says Avraham Avinu realized through his own understanding the greatness of Hashem. When he was three years old, the Rambam says he started thinking, and he came to a decision, a realization, that there must be 讬砖 讘注诇 讛讘讬转 诇讘讬专讛 讝讜, there is a ba'al habayit, there is a ba'al habayit, a boss to this palace, to this world. How did he come to that realization? So the Rambam says he started thinking, \"Look, you have the solar system, you have all this, and all this happens. Who makes all this happen?\" So he realized it's Hashem. But when there is no miracle, then it's harder, and you've got to think very hard. If you think hard, you'll come to an understanding that this is all by Hashem. But when a miracle happens and something just goes differently, then this shows that nature, what we call nature, is not really in control, but it's Hashem who controls it. And that's why it's called a nes. Nes means it picks up. What does it pick up? It picks up the nature, it elevates the nature to a level that people should realize that the nature comes from Hashem. Which is one of the basic foundations of Yiddishkeit, to realize that the nature which we call nature is really from Hashem, and there is no such thing as nature on its own. Which means in truth that nature and miracles are really the same. Just that things that happen constantly in the same way is called nature, and a miracle is something that's different than the normal system. But as far as who makes it all happen, it's the same. In the sefarim, it says that what is really nature? Really, nature is a 谞住 诪转诪讬讚. It's a constant miracle. Why is it less of a miracle the fact that the sun rises every morning than the fact that the man came down from heaven? Who makes this happen? Why should this happen? It's the same miracle. The only thing is, being that it happens every day, we get used to it. And if we're used to it, we forget it's from Hashem. But really, it's a constant miracle. That's what it is. It's one of the reasons it says in sefarim why in the midbar, in the desert, when Hashem gave the Jews the man, so it says that every day the man came down. And one of the questions asked is, why didn't Hashem give them once for a year and they should store it and have it? Why did He have to make every day the man come down again? And the answer is that if they would have it once, they would forget where it came from, and it would start being to them a natural thing. So Hashem made it every day they have to come out and look for it, and every day they would see that this is something that is not natural, and this would keep them always remembering that this is from Hashem. But in truth, it's all the same. Who says that when you plant a seed in the ground things have to grow? We're so used to it, but why does it have to happen that way? Why is that less of a miracle than the fact that it comes down from heaven? When rain comes down from heaven, that's fine. That's okay, that's natural. And when bread comes down from heaven, that's a miracle, why? It's the same thing. The only thing is, this is something that's natural, which means it happens very often and we're used to it. If it would rain every day man from heaven and that's how we would get our bread, that would be natural. So really, it's all the same. But since we don't realize that, Hashem from time to time wants to elevate the nature to a level to us that we should realize it's from 讛砖诐, so He makes a miracle. That's a nes. The word nes means 讗专讬诐 谞住讬 注诇 讛讛专讬诐, it picks it up. But what it tries to bring to our attention is that nature and beyond nature are really the same. And really, this is a foundation in Yiddishkeit.

Havayah Hu HaElokim: Why Nature and Miracle Are Ultimately the Same

We know that the pasuk says, 讜讬讚注转 讛讬讜诐 讜讛砖讘转 讗诇 诇讘讘讱, you should know and take to your heart. What should you take to your heart? So the 驻住讜拽, 讻讬 讛砖诐 讛讜讗 讛讗诇拽讬诐. That Hashem is God. But the way the pasuk says is 讛讜讬讛, first it uses the name of 讛砖诐, 讬讜讚 拽讬 讜讗讜 拽讬, then it says 讗诇拽讬诐. What truly it means is 讛讜讬讛 讛讜讗 讛讗诇拽讬诐, that 讛讜讬讛 is 讗诇拽讬诐. 讛讜讬讛 is one name of Hashem, and 讗诇拽讬诐 is another name. And many, many pesukim we find that stress this point, that 讛讜讬讛 讛讜讗 讛讗诇讜拽讬诐, 讛讜讬讛 is 讗诇讜拽讬诐. What does that mean? Not only that, by the famous story of Eliyahu HaNavi, when he had this great great 讜讬讻讜讞, the great dispute with the and with the 谞讘讬讗讬 讛讘注诇, with the prophets of the Baal, and afterwards when the fire came down from heaven, and it proved that Eliyahu was the real prophet and they were prophets of 注讘讜讚讛 讝专讛 of idols, and the Yidden, all the Yidden saw this, so they all admitted to the truth of Hashem, what words did they say? The pasuk says they said, they all fell on their face and screamed, \"讛讜讬讛 讛讜讗 讛讗诇讜拽讬诐.\" 讛讜讬讛 is 讗诇讜拽讬诐. 诪讜爪讗讬 讬讜诐 讻讬驻讜专, the climax of Yom Kippur, at the end and end and the end of Ne'ilah, we say seven times, what words? \"讛讜讬讛 讛讜讗 讛讗诇讜拽讬诐.\" We say 讛砖诐 讛讜讗 讛讗诇讜拽讬诐, 讛砖诐 讛讜讗 讛讗诇讜拽讬诐, 讛砖诐 讛讜讗 讛讗诇讜拽讬诐. But really what we say is 讛讜讬讛 讛讜讗 讛讗诇讜拽讬诐. What does that mean? So Chassidus explains, based on the Zohar, the Zohar says that it comes to tell us that 讛讜讬讛 and 讗诇讜拽讬诐 讻讜诇讗 讞讚, 讛讜讬讛 and 讗诇讜拽讬诐 are one. Now what does that mean? What's 讛讜讬讛 and what's 讗诇讜拽讬诐? They're both names of Hashem, but since there's two different names, they they each one expresses a different concept. So, we know this is one of the most famous things, everyone knows this, that the difference is Elokim represents Hashem the way He is in the nature. That's why the word 讗诇讜拽讬诐, 讗诇祝 诇诪讚 讛 讬讜讚 诪, is gematria, the numerical value is 讛讟讘注, the nature. Elokim, which means Hashem, is 诇砖讜谉 专讘讬诐, it's plural. We know we have only one God, we don't have more than one. So how could you say Elokim? Plural, as if there are more than one God? The answer is, it's Hashem the way He is in nature, and in nature you have many things. Everything in nature is from Hashem. So we have many things in nature, so that's why we say 讗诇讜拽讬诐 诇砖讜谉 专讘讬诐, plural. Not only that, Elokim is the only name of Hashem that you could put other things into His name. Let's say if you want to say, \"my God,\" and you want to use the name Havayah, you have to say 讛讜讬讛 砖诇讬. You can't put yourself in one word with Hashem. There are two words, 讛讜讬讛 砖诇讬, my God. You want to say Elokim and you want to say, \"my God,\" you say 讗诇讜拽讬. In the word Elokim, you put yourself in. You want to say, \"their God,\" 讗诇讜拽讬讛诐, \"your God,\" 讗诇讜拽讬讻诐. If you want to say Havayah and say, \"your God,\" you say 讛讜讬讛 砖诇讻诐. You have to put two words, because Havayah is a word for itself, it can't mix with anything, while Elokim does. Why is it? We're talking about God, it should be separate. Because we're talking about Hashem the way He is in the nature, where you don't see Him, really. That's why the word teva, we always say this, teva, which is nature, also comes from the word 讟讜讘注, which means sunk, drowned. When something sinks into the water, it's there, you just can't see it. Hashem in the nature is covered, is hidden, is concealed, we don't see it. Havayah, that represents Hashem the way He is beyond nature. The word Havayah is made up of three words, we all know that, 讛讬讛 讛讜讛 讜讬讛讬讛, which means past, present, and future, and it's all in one word, which means it's past, present, and future together. That's not nature. Nature is made up of time and space. Time is past, present, and future separately. You have no time which is past, present, and future together. So the word Havayah, which means past, present, and future together, represents Hashem the way He is beyond nature. So what the Zohar says that we have to keep in mind is that 讛讜讬讛 讛讜讗 讛讗诇讜拽讬诐, Havayah and 讗诇讜拽讬诐 讻讜诇讗 讞讚, it's all one. Meaning that even though this is nature and this is beyond nature, it's all the same, because the nature is only the way Hashem runs the world, it's Hashem. And Hashem is not limited, so He could run the world whichever way He wants. The fact that He runs the world naturally because He decided to do it, but not because really He's limited or anything. And He could run He could make miracles, which means He could change the rules, because He's not limited. The only thing is, like we said before, that when it's run according to the rules of nature, and since it's always like that, then we keep on forgetting, and we might think, for a moment you forget it comes from Hashem. But when a miracle happens, that's a reminder, and it says, \"There is a higher power here, not just what we think is nature, but there is somebody who runs the nature.\" And that picks up, as we said before, picks up the nature to reveal what's the truth of the nature. So basically, where it comes out is that when there are miracles, this is basically a revelation of Godliness. This reveals the truth of Hashem. Normally, teva covers up on the truth of God, When you look at nature, you do not see. You get used to it, so we forget. So the way the nature is, it covers up on the truth of Hashem, which is, as we said before, that's why it's called teva, nature. It's sunk in. Something in the water is cover covers the object. Hashem's koach or Hashem is covered. And a nes is the revelation of God. That's a revelation, it's 讙讬诇讜讬 讗诇拽讜转, that's what a nes is.

Why the Miracles Declined: Spiritual Level as the Vessel for Revelation

And that's the reason why as the generations went down, their spiritual level went down, then the miracles went down, because the miracles are a revelation of godliness. So when people are in a higher level, and people are more feel more the truth of Hashem, then there is more of a revelation of Hashem, because they are kelim, they are vessels to receive this great giluy. When people are in a lower level, on one hand, they need it more, because they themselves don't feel it, but on the other hand, they are not kelim, they are not ones that are able to, as using the terms of Chassidus, to be mamshich, to bring down this great revelation. And therefore, when we look through history, as time passed, the the miracles became less and less. First, he had so many miracles in Mitzrayim, on the Matan Torah, in the Midbar, that was the highest generation. The Yidden in the desert were called the 讚讜专 讚注讛, the the the generation of wisdom, the great smart generation. But then even later on in the time of the Beis Hamikdash, the first Beis Hamikdash, there were many miracles. We know in the Beis Hamikdash there were miracles, the aron, where it stood, the aron didn't take up place, and it take up place, miracles, and all kinds of different miracles. When it came to the second Beis Hamikdash, already there's different. The revelation was not that great, because the people were not at such a high level. But still, at that time people were great. As the time passed, came to the Tannaim and Amoraim, time passed, their level, their spiritual level are lower, and therefore, this great revelation of godliness is lower. And that's what the Gemara meant when it said that we who are not 诪讜住专 谞驻砖, we don't really give up our lives for Hashem, and therefore, we are not deserving of miracles. That's what the Gemara means when a person feels the truth of God, in which way do you see it? When do you see the person has that true feeling of Hashem and recognition of Hashem? When that's the most important thing to you. How do you see it? When a person is ready to give everything up for it. So that's what the Gemara said when when Rav Papa asked Abaye, \"Why is it the earlier generations miracles happened to them and now it doesn't?\" And he answered, \"Well, they were 诪讜住专 谞驻砖 注诇 拽讚讜砖转 讛砖诐. They gave up their life for Kiddush Hashem, and we don't.\" But he meant to say they were in a higher madreigah. If they were a higher madreigah, and they were the ones that really felt the truth of Hashem, they were 诪诪砖讬讱 讙讬诇讜讬 讗诇拽讜转. They brought down more revelation of godliness. And therefore, more miracles happened, which is a revelation of godliness. But in our generation, he said, we don't we're not such a high madreigah, we're not such a high level, so we are not able to be mamshich such a great revelation, and therefore, not so many miracles happen. And as generations passed further and further, then the miracles were less and less. On the other hand, it doesn't mean that miracles don't happen. Miracles do happen. We just have to pay attention to them. Actually, the Gemara says that nowadays, even though we don't see the miracles, but miracles happen, 讗讘诇 讗讬谉 讘注诇 讛谞住 诪讻讬专 讘谞讬住讜, the people who the miracles happen to don't recognize the miracles. And it's also because we don't really pay attention, and we, because we're not such a high madreigah, and we don't recognize Hashem in the fullest way, we always look at things from the eyes of nature, and therefore, not always do we see the miracles, but they're happening. But sometimes, real miracles happen that no one could dispute, and everyone agrees that this is a miracle. And the reason that it happens is because, from time to time, Hashem does want us to have this wake-up call and realize recognize the truth of Hashem.

Miracles Dressed in Nature: Purim, Parnasah, and the Tzadik's Emunah Peshutah

But there is one kind of miracle that says that happens more nowadays than it used to happen before, and that's a 谞住 讛诪诇讜讘砖 讘讟讘注, miracles that are dressed, covered up in nature. Cuz, basically, we have three things: we have nature, then we have miracles. Nature means something that goes on naturally, according to the normal rules of nature. Then you have miracles, which are completely beyond the rules of nature. And then you have a third thing, which is a middle point, that sometimes you have a an a miracle which is put into nature. That means, if you look at it, you see there are so too many coincidences, too many things that happened that it shows that there is a miracle. But nevertheless, if you want, you could say, \"Well, it just turned out to be that way.\" But if you think a little bit deeper, you'll see that it's a miracle. The example always given to such a thing is the nes of Purim. Says the difference between the miracle of Purim and the miracle of Chanukah. The miracle of Chanukah was a pure miracle, 专讘讬诐 讘讬讚 诪注讟讬诐, the many were given over to the hands of the few, the strong in the hands of the weak. They had they hundreds of thousands of soldiers against few, and those few came out victorious. That's an open miracle. That's against nature. That's a real miracle. Purim was also a miracle. But Purim, it was in a story. First, they killed Vashti, and then Queen Esther became the queen, and the way things happened, and then the story with Haman. There were a sequence of events, natural events that took place. A person with a little bit of brains sees that this is not normal, there is a special hand of Hashem that was guiding all this in order for it to happen, but on the other hand, it was all put into natural things that happened. Now, it says in Chassidus that a miracle that's dressed into nature has one 诪注诇讛, something over a real miracle. And this is what it says: A regular miracle shows that Hashem controls the world, and Hashem could do what He wants. But that doesn't really, really prove that nature is also a miracle. A person could still think, okay, you have two things. There is nature, and that's one type of 讛谞讛讙讛, one type of control of the world, and then you have, yes, Hashem could not go along with nature, He could be different, He could do a miracle. But as if there are two separate things. In order to really show that it's one, that there is no such thing as really nature, nature itself is from Hashem. So, when you have a miracle in the nature, that really reveals, that's the real nes. Nes meaning elevation, to elevate, to show the nature the the quality of what nature is, is when there is a miracle in the nature, and then it shows, ah, even though it's nature and it still came from Hashem. So, this is a higher madregah, and this is the these are the miracles they say that happen more in the time of galut, that then, a lot of times when you start looking around, and you just have to think, not too deep even, a little bit, you'll see so many things are natural are seem to be natural, but really it's a miracle. The existence of 讻诇诇 讬砖专讗诇 讘讻诇诇, we know what kind of anti-Semitism there is in the world, people hate us, and nevertheless, we we exist. That's It's natural, it looks like it's natural, but if you start thinking, it's a miracle within the nature. The the Midrash, the Gemara uses the term we are like 讻讘砖讛 讗讞转 讘讬谉 砖讘注讬诐 讝讗讘讬诐, like one sheep amongst 70 wolves, and we still exist. I mean, normally, imagine one 70 wolves and one sheep, it can't exist. 讘讻诇诇 it says in now you don't even see it so much, cuz we're living in a country, Baruch Hashem, that everything is fine. But even for people to make parnasah, to make a livelihood was was was a miracle. The Rabbi, the Rabbi Maharash said that the making of a livelihood of a person nowadays is like the man, he said, it's like a miracle. For a Jew to make parnasah, to make a living, I'm saying now we don't really see it, we live in a free country, but in just not long ago, 40, 50 years ago, or even just before in Russia and other places that people should exist, a Yid with 砖诪讬专转 砖讘转, with mitzvot, it's a miracle. But it's a miracle within the nature. Like the Rabbi Maharash also said that a 讘注诇 注住拽, a person who works, could see hashgachah pratit, could see the hand of Hashem, the divine providence, more than a person sits and learns. A person sits and learns in yeshivah all day, where do you see divine providence? You learn Torah, fine. But when you go out into the world, and you see, and you see how things, just poof, this happened, this guy came here, and I just happened to meet him, and I made a deal, and You see hashgachah pratit, which is basically a nes within the nature, and that's something that we see. And that's something that happens in 讝诪谉 讛讙诇讜转 nowadays more than it happened in the time of the 讘讬转 讛诪拽讚砖, and that's for that reason, to show us that everything comes from Hashem. And then there's another idea behind miracles, that many times there are miracles which we call 诪讜驻转讬诐, done through tzadikim, which Hashem gave them the power that they are able to change nature. And the reason is, as I said before, since they are so close to Hashem, they are battel, they are completely given over to Hashem, so Hashem gave them the power that nature is not in control. Just like we said before, Hashem Himself is not limited by nature, He made the nature, so tzadikim are very close to Hashem, Hashem gave them this power that they are also not limited to the laws of nature. And because they are so close to Hashem, they are ones who are able to bring 讙讬诇讜讬 讗诇拽讜转. Said before, a miracle is 讙讬诇讜讬 讗诇拽讜转, is a revelation of Godliness. Tzadikim who are close to Hashem, they are vessels to bring into the world revelation of Godliness. And therefore, you find that through tzadikim, many times miracles happen. And the way that tzadikim do the miracles is not like people think, ah, you have some tricks, you know, these are these are people who are able to, lehavdil lehavdil lehavdil, like you have, you know, people who could do black magic, they also do some tricks, and here we have these people have this some kind of secrets of how they're able to do tricks. They don't do tricks, they don't do anything, it's very simple. Being that they are such great tzadikim, they are so close to Hashem, they have that power of Hashem of not being limited to the laws of nature, and therefore they are able to do things to control. There is another concept, but this is not what we're talking about at all, that a person, a tzadik who was familiar with different 砖诪讜转, different names of Hashem, you're able to use the 砖诪讜转 to perform miracles, which would fall under the category of 拽讘诇讛 诪注砖讬转. When we talk about Kabbalah, it says that there are two types of Kabbalah: 拽讘诇讛 注讬讜谞讬转, which means the study of Kabbalah, the understanding of the different things it says in Kabbalah. Then we have an idea called 拽讘诇讛 诪注砖讬转, to use Kabbalah for ma'aseh, for action, to do things, but the tzadikim did not do this at all. The Baal Shem Tov said that there was once in his lifetime, once in his lifetime, that he used a certain name of Hashem to do a miracle, once, when he was young, and all his life he regretted doing it. So how did he perform all the miracles? He said he performed it with his emunah peshutah, with his simple, true, pure faith in Hashem. And through connection to Hashem, that's how he performed miracles. There's a story told the Baal Shem Tov once wanted to cross the river, he sat down on his handkerchief, and handkerchief he was, he sat on it and he floated to the other side. And there was another Yid who followed him, a simple Jew who did the same and it happened, and he and he crossed the river. The Baal Shem Tov said he followed me with emunah peshutah, and he was able to do it, because with

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