[Avodah] Our Attitude towards Segulos

[kennethgmiller at juno.com]

R' Micha Berger wrote:
> I find myself incapable of understanding why the Borei
> would create other forces that simply get in the way of
> the tachlis of the beri'ah. Physical forces are tools
> by which bechirah makes sense -- I can accomplish things
> and plan (at least statistically) ahead only because the
> world follows patterns of behavior. Metaphysical forces
> lack that role.

Here are two (perhaps interrelated) suggestions:

1) These forces enhance our bechira. You can't have white magic (nissim) unless black magic exists also. And segulos exist in both types - donations invoking R Meir Baal Hanes tends to reveal lost objects, and stepping on cut fingernails tends to cause miscarriages.

2) You mention statistics, and (predictable) patterns of behavior. It seems to me that metaphysical forces may exist precisely to remind us that we don't have it all figured out yet. Bring a radio transmitter and receiver back in time a few hundred years, and ask them if this force is physical or metaphysical.

Akiva Miller

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