Parshas Va'eira
Exodus 6:2 - 9:35

The Emotional Appeal of Miracles ©

By Dr. Akiva G. Belk

This study of mysticism in Hebrew Gematria is dedicated in loving memory to Mr. Michael Sakash and Mrs. Channah Sakash, may they rest in peace.

In Parshas Vaeira Hashem says to Moshe, “When he, Pharaoh speaks [these] words to you, ‘ Ti Nu - Law Chehm Moh Fays ’{Prove yourselves with a miracle} you should say to Aharon, ‘take [my] rod and throw it down before Pharaoh.’ It will become a serpent.” Exodus 7:9

What is happening here? We are about to observe the emotional appeal of a miracle. Why do miracles have emotional appeal? Everyone cannot perform a miracle. Miracles are thought by many to be supernatural. Many think they are evidence of G-d or of G-d’s support. In another article entitled, “Miracles As Evidence” we discuss the problem with accepting miracles as evidence.

Mystically speaking two different phrases expose the difference between miracles. The Gematria Mispar Katan of Ti Nu - Law Chehm - Moh Fays {Prove yourselves with a miracle} is the same Gematria Mispar Katan as Haw Oorh - Oov Vayn - Hah Cho Shehch {the Light was divided [from] the darkness}. Just as the light of Torah and the darkness are divided, miracles are also divided.

Gematria Mispar Katan
Ti Nu - Law Chehm - Moh Fays {Prove yourselves with a miracle}
46 = Sav 4 Pey 8 Vav 6 Mem 4 - Mem 4 Chof 2 Lamid 3 - Vav 6 Nun 5 Sav 4

Gematria Mispar Katan
Haw Oorh - Oov Vayn - Hah Cho Shehch {the Light was divided [from] the darkness}
46 = Chof 2 Shin 3 Ches 8 Hey 5 - Nun 5 Yud 1 Bais 2 Vav 6 - Reish 2 Vav 6 Aleph 1 Hey 5

Unfortunately there is great confusion regarding miracles. There are two classes of miracles. The first class of miracles supports every letter, word and sentence of Torah. The second class of miracles is designed to test us. The miracles in the second class do not support every letter, word and sentence of Torah. Those who put stock in the second class of miracles believe things can be proven and established with miracles. The first class is represented by Ehs Haw Oorh {Everything about the Light} which has the Gematria 613. Ehs Haw Oorh represents the 613 Mitzvohs of Torah. Mystically there is a connection between ‘everything about the light’ and the Torah. The second class is represented by darkness.

Ehs Haw Oorh {Everything about the Light}
613 = Reish 200 Vav 6 Aleph 1 Hey 5 - Sav 400 Aleph 1

People who do not understand the Torah also often misunderstand the connection between ‘everything about the light’ and the Torah. For example, if one Mitzvah of Torah were dropped then we could no longer say ‘everything about the light’ represents the mitzvohs of the Torah because the Gematria would only be 612 whereas before it was 613. It is important to understand that as Jews we cannot add to or take away from the Torah. The Torah has 613 mitzvohs.

Now when a person who believes things can be proven and established with miracles attempts to persuade you to do something other than what Hashem has commanded, if you do it then it has the effect of removing your obedience to that particular mitzvah, G-d forbid! If a person were to do that then “everything about the light” would no longer be representative of you because you would have decided to stop observing a particular mitzvah. That difference is the difference between those who need a special sign to observe all 613 Torah Mitzvahs and those who don’t. That is the difference between those who would violate a Torah Mitzvah or ignore a Torah Mitzvah based upon a sign... an omen... or a miracle, G-d forbid, and those who would not. This group {who could be persuaded to do something other than what Hashem has commanded, etc.} does not understand the importance of resisting emotional appeals to violate just one Torah Mitzvah even if it is based upon a powerful sign.

Dear ones, violating the Torah is the problem resulting from giving in to the emotional appeal of miracles. This is not to say that all miracles are bad. However it is to say that every miracle MUST be judged on the basis of what is recorded in the Torah. If a miracle were to result in a Jew violating Torah then that is wrong! That action subtracts from our light of Torah. G-d forbid, our light would be diminished from what it once was!!

Now the second group which believes things can be proven and established with miracles is represented by darkness. Pharaoh is part of this group. Pharaoh’s religious leaders are part of this group. The people of Mitzriam are also part of this group.

Chassidim, we MUST be extremely careful to examine everything in light of the Torah, which is perfect, before allowing ourselves to be persuaded by miracles. Some of the main issues of other religious groups are set forth by appeals to miracles. They ask, ‘Do you believe in miracles? We answer, “Yes!” Yet we do not believe that we should be persuaded by miracles to violate the Torah. So our answer should be, “I believe in miracles that support our Torah.” “I believe in miracles that agree with Torah.” The Torah reminds us, “...If the omen or miracle happens that he told you about [and] if he says [as a result of the miracle] ‘Let us go after another g-d’ [other than Hashem, a god] that you do not know and let us serve him / them.’ DO NOT LISTEN to the words of that prophet or to [the words] of that dreamer of dreams. [Why?] Because Hashem, your G-d is testing you to prove whether you love Hashem, your G-d in all your heart and in all your being.” Deuteronomy 13:3,4 We are commanded, “After Hashem [our] G-d are [we] to go, [we are commanded] fear Him [that is Hashem our G-d] and guard [keep] His commandments, heed His voice, serve Him and cleave to Him.” Deuteronomy 13:5

Dear ones, we are to follow the instruction of our book of instructions. We are to follow the road map of Torah and not emotional appeals. We are Jews and our allegiance is to observe what G-d has commanded in our Torah. We must NOT allow ourselves to become confused with the emotional appeals resulting from miracles. This is why we are commanded within the third paragraph of the Shema, “...do not explore after your heart and after your eyes after which you stray..” Numbers 15:37-41 It is because our allegiance is to what G-d has commanded and not to what we see or to what we think we see or to what we hear or to what we think we hear or to what we feel or to wht we think we feel.

Wishing you the best!

Dr. Akiva G. Belk