As a result of the libelous slander of the Frankists (followers of Sabbatai Zevi, the archbishop of Kamenitz decreed that all Hebrew books of the communities in his jurisdiction should be burned. On this day, he suffered a miraculous downfall and the decree was annulled. (Imrei Pinchas, 2003 ed., vol. 1, pp. 496–498)
The explosion of some barrels of gunpowder that had been caught on fire resulted in the collapse of a number of nearby buildings, placing Rabbi Yaakov Yehoshua Falk in mortal danger. In distress, he pledged that if he would survive, he would commit himself to studying the Talmud and its commentaries. He was miraculously saved, and went on to author his classic Talmudic commentary, Pnei Yehoshua. (Introduction of the author to the above work)
After overcoming the Greek forces, the Hasmoneans cleared the Temple from the idolatrous images that had been erected there. (Megilat Taanit ch. 9)
In tonight’s evening prayers, preceding Dec 5., 2024, we insert the request for rain, “v’tein tal umatar,” in the amidah. We continue adding this request into the weekday prayers until the holiday of Passover.
The physical and the spiritual are not separate entities. They are two faces of each and every thing that exists.
We call the perception of our senses “physical.”
Bu our mind’s eye is able to grasp the same phenomena and see much deeper.
And we call that “spiritual.”
Whatever exists spiritually, must have a physical manifestation. And if something occurs physically, it occurs also spiritually.
If you are happy, for example, hormones are released. Happiness is spiritual. The release of hormones is its physical manifestation.
The same with the universe around you. Everything you see is a manifestation of something spiritual.
In truth, everything that exists is spiritual.
Yet further: Everything is divine.