Hope you’re having a great day.
Many Jews may have been wondering at the Seder.
“The Exodus? Splitting of the Sea?
Why did G-d stop doing miracles?”
… He didn’t!
In fact one of His miracles is 61 years old today!
Today is Yom Ha’atzmaut. Israeli Independence Day.
Mazal Tov!
… Here’s something I think about often. Especially on a day like today.
Picture going back to the year 70.
The Romans destroyedJerusalemand theTemple.
Hundreds of thousands of Jews were sold as slaves.
It looks like it’s all over.
But you approach a Roman soldier. And tell him the following.
“Don’t worry. We’ll be back.
And you’ll be in the museum”!
He would think you’re absolutely crazy!
… Then you continue.
“If you happen to be around in the 21st Century?
I invite you to come to the Roman stadium in Caesarea.
And enjoy a concert from the Israeli Philharmonic Orchestra!
He’d think you’re absolutely out of your mind!
… But if that Roman soldier would come back today?
Here’s what he would say.
“I guess the Jews were right. There is a G-d.
And He does do miracles!”
… Not all miracles are the same.
The “splitting of theRed Sea” happens once.
And everyone says, “Wow!”
Everyone is inspired.
Then there are miracles like the State of Israel.
And after sixty years?
We can get used to it.
But we shouldn’t.
… Modern wine making returned to the Land of Israel in 1882.
It was financed by Baron Edmond de Rothschild.
One of the first bottles was sent to Europe. A gift to one of the great Rabbis of the time.
Rabbi Naftali Zvi Yehuda Berlin of Volozhin, Lithuania.
He was the head of the world’s leading yeshiva.
And what did Rabbi Berlin do before drinking the wine?
He put on his special Shabbos clothing in honor of the occasion.
To celebrate the privilege of drinking wine produced in Israel.
And of seeing the beginnings of the return of the Jewish people to their homeland.
…What a privilege we have to experience this miracle.
And we should never stop saying, “Wow”!