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<body lang=EN-US style='tab-interval:.5in'>
<div class=Section1>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none'><span
style='mso-bidi-language:HE'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none'><b><span
style='mso-bidi-language:HE'><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center;mso-layout-grid-align:
none;text-autospace:none'><b><u><span style='mso-bidi-language:HE'>The Ramban,
Chazal, and <span class=SpellE>Noach’s</span> Rainbow<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none'><b><span
style='mso-bidi-language:HE'><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none'><b><span
style='mso-bidi-language:HE'>The Nature of Miracles<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none'><span
style='mso-bidi-language:HE'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none'><span
style='mso-bidi-language:HE'>In <span class=SpellE><i>B’Midbar</i></span>
28:28ff. Moshe Rabbeynu asks Hashem to open the earth’s mouth to swallow the
followers of Korach:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal dir=RTL style='text-align:right;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none;direction:rtl;unicode-bidi:embed'><span dir=LTR
style='mso-bidi-language:HE'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal dir=RTL style='text-align:right;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none;direction:rtl;unicode-bidi:embed'><span dir=LTR
style='mso-bidi-language:HE'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal dir=RTL style='text-align:right;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none;direction:rtl;unicode-bidi:embed'><b style='mso-ansi-font-weight:
normal'><span lang=HE style='mso-bidi-language:HE'>כח</span></b><span
lang=HE style='mso-bidi-language:HE'>
וַיֹּאמֶר
משֶׁה
בְּזֹאת
תֵּדְעוּן
כִּי-ד’
שְׁלָחַנִי
לַעֲשׂוֹת
אֵת כָּל-הַמַּעֲשִׂים
הָאֵלֶּה
כִּי-לֹא
מִלִּבִּי: <b
style='mso-ansi-font-weight:normal'>כט</b>
אִם-כְּמוֹת
כָּל-הָאָדָם
יְמֻתוּן
אֵלֶּה וּפְקֻדַּת
כָּל-הָאָדָם
יִפָּקֵד
עֲלֵיהֶם לֹא ד’
שְׁלָחָנִי: <b
style='mso-ansi-font-weight:normal'>ל</b>
וְאִם-בְּרִיאָה
יִבְרָא ד’
וּפָצְתָה
הָאֲדָמָה
אֶת-פִּיהָ
וּבָלְעָה
אֹתָם
וְאֶת-כָּל-אֲשֶׁר
לָהֶם
וְיָרְדוּ חַיִּים
שְׁאֹלָה
וִידַעְתֶּם
כִּי נִאֲצוּ
הָאֲנָשִׁים
הָאֵלֶּה אֶת-ד’:
<b style='mso-ansi-font-weight:normal'>לא</b>
וַיְהִי
כְּכַלֹּתוֹ
לְדַבֵּר אֵת
כָּל-הַדְּבָרִים
הָאֵלֶּה
וַתִּבָּקַע
הָאֲדָמָה
אֲשֶׁר
תַּחְתֵּיהֶם:
<b style='mso-ansi-font-weight:normal'>לב</b>
וַתִּפְתַּח
הָאָרֶץ
אֶת-פִּיהָ
וַתִּבְלַע
אֹתָם
וְאֶת-בָּתֵּיהֶם
וְאֵת כָּל-הָאָדָם
אֲשֶׁר
לְקֹרַח
וְאֵת
כָּל-הָרְכוּשׁ:
<b style='mso-ansi-font-weight:normal'>לג</b>
וַיֵּרְדוּ
הֵם
וְכָל-אֲשֶׁר
לָהֶם חַיִּים
שְׁאֹלָה
וַתְּכַס
עֲלֵיהֶם
הָאָרֶץ וַיֹּאבְדוּ
מִתּוֹךְ
הַקָּהָל:</span><span dir=LTR
style='mso-bidi-language:HE'><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal dir=RTL style='text-align:right;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none;direction:rtl;unicode-bidi:embed'><span dir=LTR
style='mso-bidi-language:HE'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none'><span
style='mso-bidi-language:HE'>The Talmud notes the principle that G-d does not
create any new entities after the original Creation. The earth’s mouth was
actually in existence since Creation, and Moshe Rabbeynu only asked Hashem to
relocate that opening so that it <span class=GramE>would be situated</span>
specifically under <span class=SpellE>Korach’s</span> followers:<span dir=RTL></span><span
dir=RTL><span dir=RTL></span> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal dir=RTL style='text-align:right;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none;direction:rtl;unicode-bidi:embed'><span dir=LTR
style='mso-bidi-language:HE'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal dir=RTL style='text-align:right;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none;direction:rtl;unicode-bidi:embed'><b><span lang=HE
style='mso-bidi-language:HE'>מסכת
סנהדרין דף קי<sup>.</sup>
<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal dir=RTL style='text-align:right;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none;direction:rtl;unicode-bidi:embed'><span lang=HE
style='color:black;mso-bidi-language:HE'>... דרש
רבא</span><span dir=LTR></span><span dir=LTR
style='color:black;mso-bidi-language:HE'><span dir=LTR></span>:</span><span
dir=RTL></span><span lang=HE style='color:black;mso-bidi-language:HE'><span
dir=RTL></span> מאי דכתיב "ואם
בריאה יברא ה' ופצתה
</span><span lang=HE style='mso-bidi-language:HE'>האדמה
את פיה"?--<span style='color:black'>אמר
משה לפני
הקב"ה</span></span><span dir=LTR></span><span
dir=LTR style='color:black;mso-bidi-language:HE'><span dir=LTR></span>:</span><span
dir=RTL></span><span style='color:black;mso-bidi-language:HE'><span dir=RTL></span>
<span lang=HE>"אם בריאה
גיהנם—מוטב.
ואם לאו--יברא
ה'." למאי?
אילימא
למבריה ממש--<u>והא
'אין כל חדש
תחת השמש'</u>! (פרש"י:
<span style='mso-spacerun:yes'> </span></span></span><b style='mso-ansi-font-weight:
normal'><span lang=HE style='mso-bidi-language:HE'>אין
כל חדש תחת
השמש--</span></b><span lang=HE style='mso-bidi-language:
HE'>ואי גיהנם לא
אברי עד ההוא
שעתא הוה ליה
חדש)<span style='color:black'>.</span></span><span dir=LTR
style='mso-bidi-language:HE'><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal dir=RTL style='text-align:right;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none;direction:rtl;unicode-bidi:embed'><span dir=RTL></span><span
style='mso-bidi-language:HE'><span dir=RTL></span><span
style='mso-spacerun:yes'> </span><span style='color:black'><span
style='mso-spacerun:yes'> </span><span lang=HE>אלא
לקרובי פיתחא...(</span></span><span
lang=HE style='mso-ansi-font-weight:bold'>פרש"י: </span><b
style='mso-ansi-font-weight:normal'><span lang=HE>לקרובי
פתחה--</span></b><span lang=HE>שיקרב
פתחה של גיהנם
ותפתח הארץ
במקום שהן
[במקום הרשעים]).
</span></span><span dir=LTR style='mso-bidi-language:HE'><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal dir=RTL style='text-align:right;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none;direction:rtl;unicode-bidi:embed'><span dir=LTR
style='mso-bidi-language:HE'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none'><span
style='mso-bidi-language:HE'>The Mishna in <span class=SpellE><i>Avos</i></span>
indeed lists the earth’s opening as <span class=GramE>having been created</span>
during Creation.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal dir=RTL style='text-align:right;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none;direction:rtl;unicode-bidi:embed'><span dir=LTR
style='mso-bidi-language:HE'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal dir=RTL style='text-align:right;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none;direction:rtl;unicode-bidi:embed'><b><span lang=HE
style='mso-bidi-language:HE'>מסכת
אבות פרק ה
משנה ו</span></b><span lang=HE style='color:red;
mso-bidi-language:HE'> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal dir=RTL style='text-align:right;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none;direction:rtl;unicode-bidi:embed'><span lang=HE
style='color:black;mso-bidi-language:HE'>עֲשָֹרָה
דְּבָרִים
נִבְרְאוּ
בְּעֶרֶב שַׁבָּת
בֵּין
הַשְּׁמָשׁוֹת,
וְאֵלּוּ הֵן:
פִּי הָאָרֶץ,
וּפִי
הַבְּאֵר,
וּפִי
הָאָתוֹן, וְהַקֶּשֶׁת,
וְהַמָּן,
וְהַמַּטֶּה,
וְהַשָּׁמִיר,
וְהַכְּתָב,
וְהַמִּכְתָּב,
וְהַלּוּחוֹת
וְיֵשׁ
אוֹמְרִים:
אַף
הַמַּזִּיקִין,
וּקְבוּרָתוֹ
שֶׁל מ שֶׁה,
וְאֵילוֹ שֶׁל
אַבְרָהָם
אָבִינוּ.
וְיֵשׁ
אוֹמְרִים: אַף
צְבַת
בִּצְבַת
עֲשׁוּיָה.</span><span
lang=HE style='font-size:18.0pt;mso-ansi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:SnTextFt;
color:black;mso-bidi-language:HE'><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none'><span
style='mso-bidi-language:HE'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none'><span
style='mso-bidi-language:HE'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none'><span
style='mso-bidi-language:HE'>However, the Rambam maintains that this
aberrational behavior<span dir=RTL></span><span dir=RTL><span dir=RTL></span> </span>of
the earth opening and swallowing <span class=SpellE>Korach’s</span> followers,
along with all the other things listed, was merely in a <u>latent</u> state:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none'><span
style='mso-bidi-language:HE'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal dir=RTL style='text-align:right;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none;direction:rtl;unicode-bidi:embed'><span lang=HE
style='mso-bidi-language:HE'>אבות ה:ו<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal dir=RTL style='text-align:right;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none;direction:rtl;unicode-bidi:embed'><span lang=HE
style='mso-bidi-language:HE'>...כבר
זכרנו לך בפרק
הח', שהם [חז"ל]
לא יאמינו
בחדוש הרצון
בכל עת.* אבל
בתחילת עשיית
הדברים, שם,
בטבע, שיעשה
בהם כל מה
שיעשה--הן
יהיה הדבר
שיעשה מאדי
[תמידי—מסורת
הש"ס, אבל נודע
שהראשונים
שמשו לשון "מאדי"
לענין "טבעע—צ.ל.],
והוא הדבר
הטבעי, או
יהיה חדוש
לעתים רחוקים,
והוא המופת.
הכל בשוה. על
כן אמרו,
שביום הששי <u>שם
בטבע הארץ
שתשקע קרח
ועדתו</u>, ולבאר
שיוציא המים,
ולאתון שידבר,
וכן השאר. ...ואולי
תאמר: אחרי
שכל הנפלאות
כולם הושמו
בטבעי הדברים
ההם מששת ימי
בראשית, למה
ייחד אלו העשרה?
דע, שלא ייחדם
לומר שאין
שום<span style='mso-spacerun:yes'>
</span>מופת שהושם
בטבע הדברים
רק אלו. אבל
אמר שאלו נעשו
בין השמשות
לבד, ושאר
הנפלאות
והמופתים
הושמו בטבעי
הדברים אשר
נעשו בם בעת
העשותה תחלה.
ואמרו, על דרך
משל, שיום שני,
בהחלק המים,
הושם בטבע
שיחלק ים סוף
למשה, והירדן ליהושע,
וכן לאליהו,
וכן לאלישע.
ויום רביעי, כשנברא
השמש, הושם
בטבעו שיעמוד
בזמן פלוני
בדבר יהושע
אליו. וכן שאר
הנפלאות, מלבד
אלו העשרה,
שהושמו בטבעי
הדברים ההם
בין השמשות.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal dir=RTL style='text-align:right;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none;direction:rtl;unicode-bidi:embed'><span lang=HE
style='mso-bidi-language:HE'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span dir=LTR></span><span style='mso-bidi-language:HE'><span
dir=LTR></span>*If, as the <span class=SpellE><i>Medabrim</i></span> (<span
class=SpellE><i>Metukallem</i></span><i>—</i>the philosophers of an Islamic
sect) posited, nothing has a continuous existence, and every moment G-d creates
everything anew, then one cannot be held responsible for past actions. “He” did
not do them. The actions <span class=GramE>had been performed</span> by a
different entity—by “someone else.” Furthermore, if G-d creates everything anew
every moment, then, as the <span class=SpellE><i>Medabrim</i></span> indeed
posited, man’s actions are the dictated creations of G-d, not a result of man’s
free will.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='mso-bidi-language:HE'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='mso-bidi-language:HE'>Judaism does teach that
if G-d would remove His will, all would collapse into nothingness; and whatever
remains in existence is a result of G-d continuously <u>maintaining</u> the
results of what He had created. But this means that whatever He had created and
He maintains in existence, exists in a <u>continuous</u> manner, and <span
class=GramE>is not newly recreated</span> each moment. Therefore, the free will
He has granted man is operational, and man today is responsible for what he did
yesterday. <span lang=HE dir=RTL><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal dir=RTL style='text-align:right;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none;direction:rtl;unicode-bidi:embed'><span lang=HE
style='mso-bidi-language:HE'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none'><span
style='mso-bidi-language:HE'>During the Creation process, Hashem implanted into
the nature of things the ability to conduct (specified) aberrational behavior.
(This does not mean to say that the actualizing of this potential would be a
fatalistic necessity that would occur at a specific time regardless of
circumstances. It<i> </i>does mean, however, that G-d decided at nature’s
creation that He would bring this potential into actuality when He would deem
it necessary, depending upon the need.)<span lang=HE dir=RTL><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none'><span
style='font-size:11.0pt;mso-bidi-language:HE'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;mso-bidi-language:HE'>The
Rambam repeatedly emphasizes this concept in all his works.<span lang=HE
dir=RTL><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span lang=HE dir=RTL style='font-size:11.0pt;mso-bidi-language:
HE'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-language:HE'>For
example in<i> <span class=SpellE>Shemoneh</span> <span class=SpellE>Perakim</span></i>,
Chap. Five:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-language:HE'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal dir=RTL style='text-align:justify;direction:rtl;unicode-bidi:
embed'><span lang=HE style='font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-language:HE'>ועל
זה חולקים
המדברים</span><span lang=AR-SA
style='font-size:10.0pt'>, </span><span lang=HE style='font-size:10.0pt;
mso-bidi-language:HE'>כי שמעתים
אומרים</span><span dir=LTR></span><span
dir=LTR style='font-size:10.0pt'><span dir=LTR></span>: </span><span dir=RTL></span><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-language:HE'><span dir=RTL></span><span
style='mso-spacerun:yes'> </span></span><span dir=LTR style='font-size:10.0pt;
display:none;mso-hide:all'><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal dir=RTL style='text-align:justify;direction:rtl;unicode-bidi:
embed'><span dir=LTR style='font-size:10.0pt'>"</span><span lang=HE
style='font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-language:HE'>החפץ
בכל דבר</span><span lang=AR-SA
style='font-size:10.0pt'>, </span><span lang=HE style='font-size:10.0pt;
mso-bidi-language:HE'>עת אחר עת
תמיד</span><span dir=LTR></span><span dir=LTR
style='font-size:10.0pt'><span dir=LTR></span>". <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal dir=RTL style='text-align:justify;direction:rtl;unicode-bidi:
embed'><span dir=LTR style='font-size:10.0pt;display:none;mso-hide:all'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal dir=RTL style='text-align:justify;direction:rtl;unicode-bidi:
embed'><span lang=HE style='font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-language:HE'>ולא
כך נאמין
אנחנו</span><span lang=AR-SA style='font-size:
10.0pt'>; </span><span lang=HE style='font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-language:HE'>כי
אם החפץ היה
בששת ימי
בראשית</span><span lang=AR-SA
style='font-size:10.0pt'>, </span><span lang=HE style='font-size:10.0pt;
mso-bidi-language:HE'>והדברים
כולם נוהגים
לפי טבעיהם
תמיד, כמו שאמר</span><span
dir=LTR></span><span dir=LTR style='font-size:10.0pt'><span dir=LTR></span>: </span><span
dir=RTL></span><span style='font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-language:HE'><span
dir=RTL></span><span style='mso-spacerun:yes'> </span></span><span dir=LTR
style='font-size:10.0pt;display:none;mso-hide:all'><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal dir=RTL style='text-align:justify;direction:rtl;unicode-bidi:
embed'><span lang=HE style='font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-language:HE'>מה
שהיה הוא
שיהיה</span><span lang=AR-SA style='font-size:
10.0pt'>, </span><span lang=HE style='font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-language:HE'>ומה
שנעשה הוא
שיעשה</span><span dir=LTR></span><span dir=LTR
style='font-size:10.0pt'><span dir=LTR></span>, </span><span dir=RTL></span><span
lang=HE style='font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-language:HE'><span dir=RTL></span><span
style='mso-spacerun:yes'> </span>ואין כל
חדש תחת השמש </span><span
lang=AR-SA style='font-size:10.0pt'>(</span><span lang=HE style='font-size:
10.0pt;mso-bidi-language:HE'>קוהלת א</span><span
lang=AR-SA style='font-size:10.0pt'>', </span><span lang=HE style='font-size:
10.0pt;mso-bidi-language:HE'>ט').</span><span dir=LTR></span><span
lang=HE dir=LTR style='font-size:10.0pt'><span dir=LTR></span> </span><span
dir=LTR style='font-size:10.0pt'><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal dir=RTL style='text-align:justify;direction:rtl;unicode-bidi:
embed'><span dir=LTR style='font-size:10.0pt;display:none;mso-hide:all'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal dir=RTL style='text-align:justify;direction:rtl;unicode-bidi:
embed'><span dir=LTR style='font-size:10.0pt'><br>
</span><span lang=HE style='font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-language:HE'>ולפיכך</span><span
dir=LTR></span><span lang=HE dir=LTR style='font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-language:
HE'><span dir=LTR></span> </span><span lang=HE style='font-size:10.0pt;
mso-bidi-language:HE'>הוצרכו
החכמים לומר</span><span
lang=AR-SA style='font-size:10.0pt'>, </span><span lang=HE style='font-size:
10.0pt;mso-bidi-language:HE'>כי כל
המופתים
היוצאים מן
הרגיל</span><span lang=AR-SA style='font-size:
10.0pt'>, </span><span lang=HE style='font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-language:HE'>שהיו
ושיהיו על פי</span><span
dir=LTR></span><span lang=HE dir=LTR style='font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-language:
HE'><span dir=LTR></span> </span><span lang=HE style='font-size:10.0pt;
mso-bidi-language:HE'>הייעוד</span><span
lang=AR-SA style='font-size:10.0pt'>, </span><span lang=HE style='font-size:
10.0pt;mso-bidi-language:HE'>כולם קדם
להם החפץ בששת
ימי בראשית</span><span
lang=AR-SA style='font-size:10.0pt'>. </span><span lang=HE style='font-size:
10.0pt;mso-bidi-language:HE'>והושם
בטבע הדברים
מאותה שעה</span><span dir=LTR></span><span
lang=HE dir=LTR style='font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-language:HE'><span dir=LTR></span>
</span><span lang=HE style='font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-language:HE'>ואילך</span><span
lang=AR-SA style='font-size:10.0pt'>, </span><span lang=HE style='font-size:
10.0pt;mso-bidi-language:HE'>שיתרחש
בהם מה שיתרחש</span><span
lang=AR-SA style='font-size:10.0pt'>. </span><span lang=HE style='font-size:
10.0pt;mso-bidi-language:HE'>וכשהתרחש
בזמן שהיה
צריך</span><span lang=AR-SA style='font-size:10.0pt'>, </span><span
lang=HE style='font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-language:HE'>חשבוהו
לדבר</span><span dir=LTR></span><span lang=HE dir=LTR
style='font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-language:HE'><span dir=LTR></span> </span><span
lang=HE style='font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-language:HE'>שנתחדש
עתה</span><span lang=AR-SA style='font-size:10.0pt'>, </span><span
lang=HE style='font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-language:HE'>ואינו
כך</span><span lang=AR-SA style='font-size:10.0pt'>.</span><span
lang=HE style='font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-language:HE'>
וכבר הרחיבו
הדברים
בעניין הזה
במדרש קהלת
וזולתו</span><span dir=LTR></span><span
dir=LTR style='font-size:10.0pt'><span dir=LTR></span>. </span><span lang=HE
style='font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-language:HE'>ועוד
להם מאמר
בעניין הזה</span><span
lang=AR-SA style='font-size:10.0pt'>: "</span><span lang=HE
style='font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-language:HE'>עולם
כמנהגו נוהג</span><span
lang=AR-SA style='font-size:10.0pt'>" </span><span lang=HE
style='font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-language:HE'>ותמצאם
תמיד</span><span lang=AR-SA style='font-size:10.0pt'>, </span><span
lang=HE style='font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-language:HE'>בכל
דבריהם</span><span dir=LTR></span><span
dir=LTR style='font-size:10.0pt'><span dir=LTR></span>, </span><span lang=HE
style='font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-language:HE'>עליהם
השלום</span><span lang=AR-SA style='font-size:
10.0pt'>, </span><span lang=HE style='font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-language:HE'>שנמנעים
מתת הרצון
בדבר אחר דבר</span><span
lang=AR-SA style='font-size:10.0pt'>, </span><span lang=HE style='font-size:
10.0pt;mso-bidi-language:HE'>ובעת אחר
עת</span><span dir=LTR style='font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-language:
HE'><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal dir=RTL style='text-align:justify;direction:rtl;unicode-bidi:
embed'><span dir=LTR style='font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-language:HE'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal dir=RTL style='text-align:justify;direction:rtl;unicode-bidi:
embed'><span dir=LTR style='font-size:10.0pt'>. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:11.0pt;mso-bidi-language:HE'>He
also offers other insights into the nature of miracles:<span lang=HE dir=RTL><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal dir=RTL style='margin-right:.5in;text-align:right;
direction:rtl;unicode-bidi:embed'><b><span lang=HE style='font-size:11.0pt;
mso-bidi-language:HE'>מורה
נבוכים חלק ב
פרק כט</span></b><b><span dir=LTR
style='font-size:11.0pt;mso-bidi-language:HE'><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal dir=RTL style='margin-right:.5in;text-align:right;
direction:rtl;unicode-bidi:embed'><span lang=HE style='font-size:11.0pt;
mso-bidi-language:HE'>והענין אשר
נלך סביבו כבר
התבאר</span><span lang=AR-SA style='font-size:
11.0pt'>, </span><span lang=HE style='font-size:11.0pt;mso-bidi-language:HE'>והוא</span><span
lang=AR-SA style='font-size:11.0pt'>, </span><span lang=HE style='font-size:
11.0pt;mso-bidi-language:HE'>שהפסד זה
העולם
והשתנותו ממה
שהוא <strong>או
השתנות דבר
מטבעו והמשכו
לפי השינוי
ההוא</strong></span><span lang=AR-SA style='font-size:
11.0pt'> - </span><span lang=HE style='font-size:11.0pt;mso-bidi-language:HE'>הוא
דבר שלא בא
אלינו בזה דבר
נביא ולא דבר </span><span
lang=AR-SA style='font-size:11.0pt'>'</span><span lang=HE style='font-size:
11.0pt;mso-bidi-language:HE'>חכמים</span><span
lang=AR-SA style='font-size:11.0pt'>'</span><span lang=HE style='font-size:
11.0pt;mso-bidi-language:HE'>...ואשר
תמצא לכל ה</span><span
lang=AR-SA style='font-size:11.0pt'>'</span><span lang=HE style='font-size:
11.0pt;mso-bidi-language:HE'>חכמים</span><span
lang=AR-SA style='font-size:11.0pt'>' </span><span lang=HE style='font-size:
11.0pt;mso-bidi-language:HE'>תמיד</span><span
lang=AR-SA style='font-size:11.0pt'>,</span><span lang=HE style='font-size:
11.0pt;mso-bidi-language:HE'>... הוא </span><span lang=AR-SA
style='font-size:11.0pt'>- </span><span lang=HE style='font-size:11.0pt;
mso-bidi-language:HE'>אמרו</span><span lang=AR-SA
style='font-size:11.0pt'>, "</span><span lang=HE style='font-size:11.0pt;
mso-bidi-language:HE'>אין כל
חדש תחת השמש</span><span
lang=AR-SA style='font-size:11.0pt'>", </span><b><u><span lang=HE
style='font-size:11.0pt;mso-bidi-language:HE'>ושאין
שם התחדשות
בשום פנים ולא
בשום סיבה</span></u></b><span
lang=HE style='font-size:11.0pt;mso-bidi-language:HE'>...<strong>..א</strong>מנם
אמרתי שלא
ישתנה דבר
מטבעו <u>וימשך</u>
על השינוי
ההוא </span><span lang=AR-SA style='font-size:11.0pt'>-
</span><span lang=HE style='font-size:11.0pt;mso-bidi-language:HE'>להשמר
מן הנפלאות</span><span
lang=AR-SA style='font-size:11.0pt'>; </span><span lang=HE style='font-size:
11.0pt;mso-bidi-language:HE'>כי אף על
פי שנהפך המטה
לנחש</span><span lang=AR-SA style='font-size:11.0pt'>, </span><span
lang=HE style='font-size:11.0pt;mso-bidi-language:HE'>ונהפכו
המים לדם</span><span lang=AR-SA
style='font-size:11.0pt'>, </span><span lang=HE style='font-size:11.0pt;
mso-bidi-language:HE'>והיד
הטהורה
הנכבדת </span><span lang=AR-SA
style='font-size:11.0pt'>- </span><span lang=HE style='font-size:11.0pt;
mso-bidi-language:HE'>לבנה</span><span lang=AR-SA
style='font-size:11.0pt'>, </span><b><span lang=HE style='font-size:11.0pt;
mso-bidi-language:HE'>מבלתי
סיבה טבעית מחייבת
אותם</span></b><span lang=HE style='font-size:11.0pt;
mso-bidi-language:HE'> </span><span lang=AR-SA style='font-size:11.0pt'>- </span><span
lang=HE style='font-size:11.0pt;mso-bidi-language:HE'>הענינים
ההם והדומה
להם לא ימשכו
ולא שבו טבע אחר</span><span
lang=AR-SA style='font-size:11.0pt'>, </span><span lang=HE style='font-size:
11.0pt;mso-bidi-language:HE'>אבל כמו
שאמרו </span><span lang=AR-SA style='font-size:
11.0pt'>'</span><span lang=HE style='font-size:11.0pt;mso-bidi-language:HE'>ז</span><span
lang=AR-SA style='font-size:11.0pt'>"</span><span lang=HE
style='font-size:11.0pt;mso-bidi-language:HE'>ל</span><span lang=AR-SA
style='font-size:11.0pt'>', "</span><span lang=HE style='font-size:11.0pt;
mso-bidi-language:HE'>עולם
כמנהגו הולך</span><span
lang=AR-SA style='font-size:11.0pt'>"</span><span dir=LTR></span><span
dir=LTR style='font-size:11.0pt'><span dir=LTR></span>) </span><span lang=HE
style='font-size:11.0pt;mso-bidi-language:HE'>עבודה
זרה נד ב</span><span dir=LTR></span><span
dir=LTR style='font-size:11.0pt'><span dir=LTR></span>(. </span><span lang=HE
style='font-size:11.0pt;mso-bidi-language:HE'><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-top:5.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:5.0pt;
margin-left:.5in;mso-pagination:none;tab-stops:0in .5in 1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 3.5in 4.0in 4.5in 5.0in 5.5in 6.0in'><span
style='font-size:11.0pt'><br>
[N]o prophet or sage has ever described…a permanent change of any</span><span
style='font-size:11.0pt;mso-bidi-language:HE'>thing’s nature and remaining to
behave according to that change</span><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>. </span><span
style='font-size:11.0pt;mso-bidi-language:HE'>…What you will find the Sages
always quoting is his [King Solomon's] saying</span><span style='font-size:
11.0pt'>, “There is nothing new under the sun" (Eccles. <span
class=SpellE>i</span>. 9), meaning that absolutely no new creation takes place
in any way and under any circumstances … However, I said that nothing will ever
change its nature and continue to remain with that change, to keep away from
miracles. For although the rod turned into a serpent, and the water turned into
blood, and the pure and noble hand turned white [with leprosy], without a
natural cause necessitating it, those changes and those similar to them do not
last, and they [the changed items] do not take on a different nature. Rather,
the Sages <span class=GramE>say</span> “The Universe continues its regular
course.” <span lang=AR-SA dir=RTL><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal dir=RTL style='margin-right:.5in;text-align:right;
direction:rtl;unicode-bidi:embed'><b><span lang=HE style='font-size:11.0pt;
mso-bidi-language:HE'>איגרת\מאמר
תחיית המתים <o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal dir=RTL style='margin-right:.5in;text-align:right;
direction:rtl;unicode-bidi:embed'><span lang=HE style='font-size:11.0pt;
mso-bidi-language:HE'>ואמנם
המופת אשר
בעניינים
האפשריים</span><span
lang=AR-SA style='font-size:11.0pt'>, </span><span lang=HE style='font-size:
11.0pt;mso-bidi-language:HE'>הוא כל
אשר יתמיד
ויאריך יותר
ראוי</span><span dir=LTR></span><span lang=HE dir=LTR
style='font-size:11.0pt;mso-bidi-language:HE'><span dir=LTR></span> </span><span
lang=HE style='font-size:11.0pt;mso-bidi-language:HE'>להיותו
מופת</span><span lang=AR-SA style='font-size:11.0pt'>, </span><span
lang=HE style='font-size:11.0pt;mso-bidi-language:HE'>ומפני
זה נאמין
התמדת הברכות
והקללות</span><span lang=AR-SA
style='font-size:11.0pt'>, </span><span lang=HE style='font-size:11.0pt;
mso-bidi-language:HE'>הברכות עם
העבודה</span><span dir=LTR></span><span
lang=HE dir=LTR style='font-size:11.0pt;mso-bidi-language:HE'><span dir=LTR></span>
</span><span lang=HE style='font-size:11.0pt;mso-bidi-language:HE'>והקללות
עם המרי לעולם
בזאת האומה
ובזה שבו אות
ומופת</span><span dir=LTR></span><b><span
dir=LTR style='font-size:11.0pt'><span dir=LTR></span>. </span></b><b><span
lang=AR-SA style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal dir=RTL style='margin-right:.5in;text-align:right;
direction:rtl;unicode-bidi:embed'><b><span lang=HE style='font-size:11.0pt;
mso-bidi-language:HE'>(דף שסז)</span></b><b><span
dir=LTR style='font-size:11.0pt'><br>
</span></b><span lang=HE style='font-size:11.0pt;mso-bidi-language:HE'>וכבר
נודע שאנחנו <b>נברח
מאוד משינוי
סדר בראשית</b></span><span
lang=AR-SA style='font-size:11.0pt'>. </span><span lang=HE style='font-size:
11.0pt;mso-bidi-language:HE'>ואמנם
יטעה כל מי</span><span dir=LTR></span><span
lang=HE dir=LTR style='font-size:11.0pt;mso-bidi-language:HE'><span dir=LTR></span>
</span><span lang=HE style='font-size:11.0pt;mso-bidi-language:HE'>שיטעה
ממי שקדם או
יתאחר, להיותם
בלתי מבדילים
בין העניינים
הנוהגים מנהג</span><span
dir=LTR></span><span lang=HE dir=LTR style='font-size:11.0pt;mso-bidi-language:
HE'><span dir=LTR></span> </span><span lang=HE style='font-size:11.0pt;
mso-bidi-language:HE'>המופת
[כמו קריאת ים
סוף ותחיית
המתים]</span><span dir=LTR></span><span dir=LTR
style='font-size:11.0pt;mso-bidi-language:HE'><span dir=LTR></span>—</span><span
lang=HE style='font-size:11.0pt;mso-bidi-language:HE'>והם
אשר לא יעמדו
כלל ולא
יתקיימו</span><span lang=AR-SA
style='font-size:11.0pt'>, </span><span lang=HE style='font-size:11.0pt;
mso-bidi-language:HE'>ואמנם היו
מפני הצורך</span><span
lang=AR-SA style='font-size:11.0pt'>, </span><span lang=HE style='font-size:
11.0pt;mso-bidi-language:HE'>או לאמת</span><span
dir=LTR></span><span lang=HE dir=LTR style='font-size:11.0pt;mso-bidi-language:
HE'><span dir=LTR></span> </span><span lang=HE style='font-size:11.0pt;
mso-bidi-language:HE'>נבואה</span><span dir=LTR></span><span
dir=LTR style='font-size:11.0pt;mso-bidi-language:HE'><span dir=LTR></span>—</span><span
lang=HE style='font-size:11.0pt;mso-bidi-language:HE'>ובין
העניינים
הטבעיים
הנמשכים תמיד
שהם מנהגו של
עולם</span><span lang=AR-SA style='font-size:11.0pt'>, </span><span
lang=HE style='font-size:11.0pt;mso-bidi-language:HE'>אשר
יבארו</span><span dir=LTR></span><span lang=HE
dir=LTR style='font-size:11.0pt;mso-bidi-language:HE'><span dir=LTR></span> </span><span
lang=HE style='font-size:11.0pt;mso-bidi-language:HE'>ז</span><span
lang=AR-SA style='font-size:11.0pt'>"</span><span lang=HE
style='font-size:11.0pt;mso-bidi-language:HE'>ל
ויאמרו תמיד </span><span
lang=AR-SA style='font-size:11.0pt'>"</span><span lang=HE
style='font-size:11.0pt;mso-bidi-language:HE'>עולם
כמנהגו נוהג</span><span
lang=AR-SA style='font-size:11.0pt'>", </span><span lang=HE
style='font-size:11.0pt;mso-bidi-language:HE'>ואמרו
אין מביאים
ראיה ממעשה
נסים</span><span dir=LTR></span><span dir=LTR
style='font-size:11.0pt'><span dir=LTR></span>. <br>
<br>
</span><span lang=HE style='font-size:11.0pt;mso-bidi-language:HE'>ואמר
שלמה </span><span lang=AR-SA style='font-size:11.0pt'>"</span><span
lang=HE style='font-size:11.0pt;mso-bidi-language:HE'>כי
כל אשר יעשה
האלוהים הוא
יהיה לעולם</span><span
dir=LTR></span><span dir=LTR style='font-size:11.0pt'><span dir=LTR></span>;</span><span
dir=RTL></span><span lang=HE style='font-size:11.0pt;mso-bidi-language:HE'><span
dir=RTL></span> עליו אין
להוסיף</span><span dir=LTR></span><span
lang=HE dir=LTR style='font-size:11.0pt;mso-bidi-language:HE'><span dir=LTR></span>
</span><span lang=HE style='font-size:11.0pt;mso-bidi-language:HE'>וממנו
אין לגרוע</span><span
lang=AR-SA style='font-size:11.0pt'>". </span><span lang=HE
style='font-size:11.0pt;mso-bidi-language:HE'>הנה
כבר התבאר</span><span
lang=AR-SA style='font-size:11.0pt'>, </span><span lang=HE style='font-size:
11.0pt;mso-bidi-language:HE'>שהעניינים
הטבעיים
נמשכים תמיד
על</span><span dir=LTR></span><span lang=HE dir=LTR
style='font-size:11.0pt;mso-bidi-language:HE'><span dir=LTR></span> </span><span
lang=HE style='font-size:11.0pt;mso-bidi-language:HE'>מנהגיהם</span><span
lang=AR-SA style='font-size:11.0pt'>. </span><span lang=HE style='font-size:
11.0pt;mso-bidi-language:HE'>וכבר
בארנו גם כן
זה ב</span><span lang=AR-SA style='font-size:11.0pt'>"</span><span
lang=HE style='font-size:11.0pt;mso-bidi-language:HE'>מורה
הנבוכים</span><span lang=AR-SA
style='font-size:11.0pt'>", </span><span lang=HE style='font-size:11.0pt;
mso-bidi-language:HE'>בדברנו
בחידוש העולם</span><span
dir=LTR></span><span dir=LTR style='font-size:11.0pt'><span dir=LTR></span>. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal dir=RTL style='margin-right:.5in;text-align:right;
direction:rtl;unicode-bidi:embed'><span lang=HE style='font-size:11.0pt;
mso-bidi-language:HE'>וממה
שראוי
שנבארהו הנה</span><span
lang=AR-SA style='font-size:11.0pt'>, </span><span lang=HE style='font-size:
11.0pt;mso-bidi-language:HE'>ואע</span><span lang=AR-SA
style='font-size:11.0pt'>"</span><span lang=HE style='font-size:11.0pt;
mso-bidi-language:HE'>פ שהוא
עיקר יותר
נכבד מכוונת
זה המאמר, הוא:
שהנפלאות--פעמים
יהיו <b>בעניינים
הנמנעים בטבע</b>--כהתהפך
המטה לנחש,
ושקיעת</span><span dir=LTR></span><span
lang=HE dir=LTR style='font-size:11.0pt;mso-bidi-language:HE'><span dir=LTR></span>
</span><span lang=HE style='font-size:11.0pt;mso-bidi-language:HE'>הארץ
בעדת קרח,
ובקיעת הים</span><span
lang=AR-SA style='font-size:11.0pt'>. </span><span lang=HE style='font-size:
11.0pt;mso-bidi-language:HE'>ופעמים
יהיו <b>בעניינים
האפשריים
בטבע</b>--כבא
הארבה,</span><span dir=LTR></span><span lang=HE
dir=LTR style='font-size:11.0pt;mso-bidi-language:HE'><span dir=LTR></span> </span><span
lang=HE style='font-size:11.0pt;mso-bidi-language:HE'>והברד,
והדבר
במצרים--כי
מדרך מיני אלו
הדברים,
שיארעו במקצת
העתים במקצת</span><span
dir=LTR></span><span lang=HE dir=LTR style='font-size:11.0pt;mso-bidi-language:
HE'><span dir=LTR></span> </span><span lang=HE style='font-size:11.0pt;
mso-bidi-language:HE'>המקומות</span><span
lang=AR-SA style='font-size:11.0pt'>. </span><span lang=HE style='font-size:
11.0pt;mso-bidi-language:HE'>וכמו
קריעת מזבח
ירבעם במאמר
איש הא’</span><span lang=AR-SA style='font-size:
11.0pt'>, </span><span lang=HE style='font-size:11.0pt;mso-bidi-language:HE'>זה
המופת אשר דבר
ה</span><span dir=LTR></span><span dir=LTR style='font-size:11.0pt'><span
dir=LTR></span>' "</span><span lang=HE style='font-size:11.0pt;mso-bidi-language:
HE'>הנה המזבח נקרע</span><span
lang=AR-SA style='font-size:11.0pt'>" </span><span lang=HE
style='font-size:11.0pt;mso-bidi-language:HE'>וגו</span><span
lang=AR-SA style='font-size:11.0pt'>'</span><span lang=HE style='font-size:
11.0pt;mso-bidi-language:HE'>--כי מדרך
הבניינים
שיבקעו</span><span lang=AR-SA
style='font-size:11.0pt'>, </span><span lang=HE style='font-size:11.0pt;
mso-bidi-language:HE'>וכל שכן
הנבנים מחדש.</span><span
dir=LTR></span><span lang=HE dir=LTR style='font-size:11.0pt;mso-bidi-language:
HE'><span dir=LTR></span> </span><span lang=HE style='font-size:11.0pt;
mso-bidi-language:HE'>וכרדת
המטר הסוחף
בזמן הקציר על
יד שמואל</span><span lang=AR-SA
style='font-size:11.0pt'>. </span><span lang=HE style='font-size:11.0pt;
mso-bidi-language:HE'>והברכות
והקללות
הנזכרות
בתורה--כי כל
אחת מהן אפשר
בכל ארץ ובכל
זמן</span><span lang=AR-SA style='font-size:11.0pt'>, </span><span
lang=HE style='font-size:11.0pt;mso-bidi-language:HE'>והם
כולם מכת
האפשר
כשיסתכל האדם</span><span
dir=LTR></span><span lang=HE dir=LTR style='font-size:11.0pt;mso-bidi-language:
HE'><span dir=LTR></span> </span><span lang=HE style='font-size:11.0pt;
mso-bidi-language:HE'>בהם</span><span dir=LTR></span><span
dir=LTR style='font-size:11.0pt'><span dir=LTR></span>. </span><span dir=RTL></span><span
lang=HE style='font-size:11.0pt;mso-bidi-language:HE'><span dir=RTL></span>*<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal dir=RTL style='margin-right:.5in;text-align:right;
direction:rtl;unicode-bidi:embed'><span lang=HE style='font-size:11.0pt;
mso-bidi-language:HE'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal dir=RTL style='margin-right:.5in;text-align:right;
direction:rtl;unicode-bidi:embed'><span lang=HE style='font-size:11.0pt;
mso-bidi-language:HE'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><span dir=LTR></span><span
style='font-size:11.0pt;mso-bidi-language:HE'><span dir=LTR></span>*See also:</span><i
style='mso-ansi-font-style:normal'><span lang=HE dir=RTL style='font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:SnTextFt;color:red;mso-bidi-language:HE'><o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class=MsoNormal dir=RTL style='margin-right:.5in;text-align:right;
mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none;direction:rtl;unicode-bidi:embed'><b><i
style='mso-ansi-font-style:normal'><span lang=HE style='font-size:11.0pt;
color:black;mso-bidi-language:HE'>מסכת
ברכות דף נט/א<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal dir=RTL style='margin-right:.5in;text-align:right;
mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none;direction:rtl;unicode-bidi:embed'><span
lang=HE style='font-size:11.0pt;color:black;mso-bidi-language:HE'>...
שבשעה שהקב"ה
בקש להביא
מבול לעולם
נטל שני
כוכבים מכימה,
והביא מבול
לעולם. וכשבקש
לסתמה, נטל
שני כוכבים
מעיש, וסתמה.
וליהדר לה!
אין הבור
מתמלא
מחוליתו. אי
נמית אין
קטיגור נעשה
סניגור.
וליברי לה תרי
ככבי אחריני! <u>אין
כל חדש תחת
השמש.</u> א"ר
נחמן עתיד
הקב"ה
להחזירן לה
שנאמר ועיש על
בניה תנחם.</span><span dir=LTR
style='font-size:11.0pt;color:black;mso-bidi-language:HE'><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span lang=HE dir=RTL style='font-size:11.0pt;color:black;
mso-bidi-language:HE'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:11.0pt;color:black;mso-bidi-language:
HE'>Both Gemora passages are referring to the proposition of Hashem creating
wholly new entities—<span class=SpellE><i>Gehinnom</i></span>, or stars, that
did not yet exist. The Rambam extends the principle to include aberrational
nature within already created things.</span><i style='mso-ansi-font-style:normal'><span
lang=HE dir=RTL style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:SnTextFt;color:red;
mso-bidi-language:HE'><o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span lang=HE dir=RTL style='font-size:11.0pt;color:black;
mso-bidi-language:HE'><span style='mso-spacerun:yes'> </span></span><span
lang=HE dir=RTL style='font-size:11.0pt;mso-bidi-language:HE'><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><span style='font-size:11.0pt;
mso-bidi-language:HE'>In<span dir=RTL></span><span dir=RTL><span dir=RTL></span>
</span>the above passage from <i>Ma’amar <span class=SpellE>HaTechiya</span>, </i>the
Rambam explains that there are five kinds of miraculous events:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><span style='font-size:11.0pt;
mso-bidi-language:HE'>(1) Those that involve changing the nature of an entity
(such as the staff turning into a snake), and<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><span style='font-size:11.0pt;
mso-bidi-language:HE'>(2) Those that do not involve changing the nature of an
entity. The latter events are miraculous in<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:1.75in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo2;
tab-stops:list .75in 1.0in'><![if !supportLists]><span style='font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:Symbol;mso-fareast-font-family:Symbol;mso-bidi-font-family:Symbol;
mso-bidi-language:HE'><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>·<span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'>
</span></span></span><![endif]><span dir=LTR><span style='font-size:11.0pt;
mso-bidi-language:HE'>their unusual intensity (such as the lice plague of </span></span><st1:country-region><st1:place><span
style='font-size:11.0pt;mso-bidi-language:HE'>Egypt</span></st1:place></st1:country-region><span
style='font-size:11.0pt;mso-bidi-language:HE'>), and/or in<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:1.75in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo2;
tab-stops:list .75in 1.0in'><![if !supportLists]><span style='font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:Symbol;mso-fareast-font-family:Symbol;mso-bidi-font-family:Symbol;
mso-bidi-language:HE'><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>·<span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'>
</span></span></span><![endif]><span dir=LTR><span style='font-size:11.0pt;
mso-bidi-language:HE'>their timing (such as rainfall during a drought at the
word of a prophet), and/or<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:1.75in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo2;
tab-stops:list .75in 1.0in'><![if !supportLists]><span style='font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:Symbol;mso-fareast-font-family:Symbol;mso-bidi-font-family:Symbol;
mso-bidi-language:HE'><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>·<span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'>
</span></span></span><![endif]><span dir=LTR><span style='font-size:11.0pt;
mso-bidi-language:HE'>their unnatural exclusivity to a specific population or
locale (such as the plagues of </span></span><st1:country-region><st1:place><span
style='font-size:11.0pt;mso-bidi-language:HE'>Egypt</span></st1:place></st1:country-region><span
style='font-size:11.0pt;mso-bidi-language:HE'> that did not effect the
Israelites or their land), and/or<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:1.75in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo2;
tab-stops:list .75in 1.0in'><![if !supportLists]><span style='font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:Symbol;mso-fareast-font-family:Symbol;mso-bidi-font-family:Symbol;
mso-bidi-language:HE'><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>·<span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'>
</span></span></span><![endif]><span dir=LTR><span class=GramE><span
style='font-size:11.0pt;mso-bidi-language:HE'>their</span></span></span><span
style='font-size:11.0pt;mso-bidi-language:HE'> repeated coinciding with other
events without a natural connection that would explain it (such as the rewards
for righteousness and punishments for evil acts).<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:11.0pt;mso-bidi-language:HE'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:11.0pt;mso-bidi-language:HE'>Those
that are essential changes in the nature of an entity are non-permanent, and
the entity soon reverts to its original form and nature.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none'><span
lang=HE dir=RTL style='font-size:11.0pt;mso-bidi-language:HE'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='mso-bidi-language:HE'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center;mso-layout-grid-align:
none;text-autospace:none'><span style='mso-bidi-language:HE'>***<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center;mso-layout-grid-align:
none;text-autospace:none'><span style='mso-bidi-language:HE'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none'><b><span
style='mso-bidi-language:HE'>The Ramban and the Rainbow<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none'><span
style='mso-bidi-language:HE'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none'><span
style='mso-bidi-language:HE'>Let’s now focus on one of the ten things the
Mishnah in Ahvos describes as <span class=GramE>having been created</span> at
twilight of the sixth day: the rainbow. The issue I will discuss involves two
questions: (a) Did rainbows appear in actuality before G-<span class=SpellE>d’s</span>
covenant with Noach, or was this the first time in history there was a rainbow,
and (b) is the rainbow a miraculous or natural phenomenon?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none'><span
style='mso-bidi-language:HE'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none'><span
style='mso-bidi-language:HE'>The Ibn Ezra cites, and disagrees with, Rav Saadia
Gaon:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none'><b><span
style='mso-bidi-language:HE'><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal align=right style='text-align:right;mso-layout-grid-align:
none;text-autospace:none'><b><span lang=HE dir=RTL style='color:black;
mso-bidi-language:HE'>אבן עזרא
בראשית ט:יג <o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal dir=RTL style='text-align:right;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none;direction:rtl;unicode-bidi:embed'><b style='mso-ansi-font-weight:
normal'><span lang=HE style='color:black;mso-bidi-language:HE'>את
קשתי.</span></b><span lang=HE style='color:black;
mso-bidi-language:HE'> הנה <b>נתתי</b>
<u>עתה</u> קשת
בענן. ואין
פירושו כאשר
אמר הגאון כי
בתחלה היתה:</span><span
dir=LTR style='color:black;mso-bidi-language:HE'><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none'><span
style='color:black;mso-bidi-language:HE'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='color:black;mso-bidi-language:HE'>“My
rainbow”—Behold I <u>now</u> placed a rainbow in the cloud. The meaning is not,
as the Gaon [Rav Saadia) said, that it existed at the beginning [of the world].
<span lang=HE dir=RTL><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal dir=RTL style='text-align:right;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none;direction:rtl;unicode-bidi:embed'><u><span lang=HE
style='color:black;mso-bidi-language:HE'><o:p><span style='text-decoration:
none'> </span></o:p></span></u></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none'><span
style='color:black;mso-bidi-language:HE'>Rav Saadia held that rainbows already
appeared before <span class=SpellE>Noach’s</span> time. This fits better with
the primary grammatical reading of “<span lang=HE dir=RTL>ונתתי</span><span
dir=LTR></span><span dir=LTR></span>,” but evidently, the Ibn Ezra holds that
the context indicates that the rainbow </span><span style='mso-bidi-font-size:
16.0pt;mso-bidi-font-family:SnTextFt;color:black;mso-bidi-language:HE'>first
appeared <span class=GramE>now,</span> despite the fact the standard meaning of
the form </span><span style='mso-bidi-font-family:SnTextFt;color:black;
mso-bidi-language:HE'>of the word “placed” is past tense. (It </span><span
style='color:black;mso-bidi-language:HE'>is not infrequent in biblical Hebrew
for the past tense verb, especially in first person, as here, to be meant as
present tense—as in “<span lang=HE dir=RTL>ידעתי,
בני, ידעתי"</span><span
dir=LTR></span><span dir=LTR></span>—“I know, my son, I know.”)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none'><span
style='mso-bidi-font-size:16.0pt;mso-bidi-font-family:SnTextFt;color:black;
mso-bidi-language:HE'><span style='mso-spacerun:yes'> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none'><span
style='mso-bidi-font-size:16.0pt;mso-bidi-font-family:SnTextFt;color:black;
mso-bidi-language:HE'>The Ibn Ezra goes on to consider the opinion of the Greek
philosophers that rainbows are natural phenomena, but notably expresses a
generally skeptical view of their enterprise:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none'><span
style='color:black;mso-bidi-language:HE'>: <span lang=HE dir=RTL><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal dir=RTL style='text-align:right;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none;direction:rtl;unicode-bidi:embed'><span lang=HE
style='color:black;mso-bidi-language:HE'>פסוק
יד <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal dir=RTL style='text-align:right;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none;direction:rtl;unicode-bidi:embed'><b style='mso-ansi-font-weight:
normal'><span lang=HE style='color:black;mso-bidi-language:HE'>ונראתה
הקשת.</span></b><span lang=HE style='color:black;
mso-bidi-language:HE'> אילו
היינו
מאמינים
בדברי חכמי
יון שמלהט השמש
תולד הקשת. יש
לומר כי השם
חזק אור השמש
אחר המבול
והיא דרך נכונה
למבין:</span><span dir=LTR style='color:black;
mso-bidi-language:HE'><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal dir=RTL style='text-align:right;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none;direction:rtl;unicode-bidi:embed'><span dir=LTR
style='color:black;mso-bidi-language:HE'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='color:black;mso-bidi-language:HE'>If we were
believers in the words of the Greek scholars, that rainbows are the natural
result of the sun’s rays, one may say that Hashem strengthened the sun’s light
after the Flood. This is the proper way for one who understands things.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal dir=RTL style='text-align:right;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none;direction:rtl;unicode-bidi:embed'><span dir=RTL></span><span
style='color:black;mso-bidi-language:HE'><span dir=RTL></span><span
style='mso-spacerun:yes'> </span></span><span dir=LTR style='color:black;
mso-bidi-language:HE'><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none'><span
style='mso-bidi-font-size:16.0pt;mso-bidi-font-family:SnTextFt;color:black;
mso-bidi-language:HE'>Nevertheless, he concludes, even if they are correct that
rainbows are natural phenomena, he can maintain that the rainbow never appeared
before the Flood. He posits that the rainbow still first appeared after the <span
class=SpellE>Mabul</span>, due to a quantitative change in the sun that first
took place then.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none'><span
style='mso-bidi-font-size:16.0pt;mso-bidi-font-family:SnTextFt;color:black;
mso-bidi-language:HE'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:11.0pt;mso-bidi-font-family:SnTextFt;
color:black;mso-bidi-language:HE'>(The Ibn Ezra’s position is not quite that of
the Rambam’s understanding of the Mishnah in <i>Ahvos</i> that the rainbow is
an aberration of nature created only in potential, and not the result of
natural phenomena. True, no rainbow appeared before; but its appearance was due
to natural causes, not any aberration of nature. Rav Saadia Gaon’s position is
all the less consistent with the concept the Rambam attached to the <i>Ahvos</i>
<span class=SpellE><span class=GramE>mishnah</span></span>. Rav Saadia Gaon
evidently held that rainbows are phenomena that nature had regularly exhibited
since creation.)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none'><span
style='mso-bidi-font-size:16.0pt;mso-bidi-font-family:SnTextFt;color:black;
mso-bidi-language:HE'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none'><span
style='mso-bidi-language:HE'>The Ramban shares Ibn Ezra’s general skepticism
about the findings of the Greek philosophers, as can be seen from his remarks
elsewhere:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none'><span
style='mso-bidi-language:HE'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal dir=RTL style='margin-right:.5in;text-align:right;
mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none;direction:rtl;unicode-bidi:embed'><u><span
lang=HE style='mso-bidi-language:HE'>רמב"ן
בראשית פרק א
פסוק ט <o:p></o:p></span></u></p>
<p class=MsoNormal dir=RTL style='margin-right:.5in;text-align:right;
mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none;direction:rtl;unicode-bidi:embed'><span
lang=HE style='color:red;mso-bidi-language:HE'><span
style='mso-spacerun:yes'> </span></span><b style='mso-ansi-font-weight:normal'><span
lang=HE style='color:black;mso-bidi-language:HE'>יקוו
המים מתחת
השמים.</span></b><span lang=HE style='color:black;
mso-bidi-language:HE'> היה
התהום--שהוא
מים
ועפר--כעין
המים העכורים,
וגזר על המים
שיקוו במקום
אחד מסובב כל
הפאות, וגזר
על העפר שיעלה
עד שיראה על
המים וייבש, ותהיה
יבשה שטוחה
ראויה לישוב,
וכן כתוב
לרוקע הארץ על
המים </span><span lang=HE style='color:#400040;
mso-bidi-language:HE'>(תהלים
קלו ו<b>)</b></span><b><span lang=HE style='color:black;
mso-bidi-language:HE'>. או שמא
שתהיה כדורית
מקצתה מגולה
ורובה משוקעת
אשר ידמו
היונים
במופתיהם
הנראים או
המפתים.</span></b><span lang=HE
style='color:black;mso-bidi-language:HE'><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal dir=RTL style='margin-right:.5in;text-align:right;
mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none;direction:rtl;unicode-bidi:embed'><span
dir=LTR style='mso-bidi-language:HE'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='mso-bidi-language:HE'>“Let the waters from
under the heavens gather…”—The “Deep”—which was water and sand—was like muddy
water. G-d decreed upon the waters that they should gather in one place …and He
decreed upon the dirt to rise until it would be visible over the waters, become
dry, and become spread out dry land fit for habitation. “Give praise…to the One
Who spread the earth over the waters” (<span class=SpellE>Tehillim</span>
136:6). Or perhaps [He decreed] that it should be spherical, part of it visible
and most of it sunk, as the Greeks would imagine with what are their
proofs—evident or misleading.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='mso-bidi-language:HE'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none'><span
style='mso-bidi-language:HE'>The Ramban, in his dismissive attitude towards the
Greeks’ “proofs” for things (at least when they apparently contradict Jewish
sources) creates a play on the words, <span class=SpellE><i>mofess</i></span><i>—proof,</i>
and <span class=SpellE><i>mefatim</i></span><i>—misleading things.</i><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none'><span
style='mso-bidi-language:HE'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none'><span
style='mso-bidi-language:HE'>Nevertheless, in our particular case the Ramban
reluctantly accedes to their theories—based upon his own observations. In
response to the Ibn Ezra’s skeptical “<span lang=HE dir=RTL style='color:black'>אילו
היינו
מאמינים
בדברי חכמי
יון שמלהט
השמש תולד
הקשת...</span><span class=GramE><span dir=LTR></span><span
dir=LTR></span>”,</span> “If we would believe the words of the Greeks, <span
style='color:black'>that rainbows result from the sun’s rays [shining on moist
air]…</span>” the Ramban (on <span class=SpellE>Braishis</span> </span><st1:time
Minute="12" Hour="9"><span style='mso-bidi-language:HE'>9:12</span></st1:time><span
style='mso-bidi-language:HE'>) responds:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none'><span
style='mso-bidi-language:HE'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal dir=RTL style='margin-right:.5in;text-align:right;
direction:rtl;unicode-bidi:embed'><span lang=HE style='color:black;mso-bidi-language:
HE'>ואנחנו על
כרחנו נאמין
לדברי היונים
שמלהט השמש
באויר הלח
יהיה הקשת
בתולדה</span><span lang=AR-SA
style='color:black'>, </span><u><span lang=HE style='color:black;mso-bidi-language:
HE'>כי בכלי מים
לפני השמש
יראה כמראה
הקשת</span></u><span lang=HE style='color:black;
mso-bidi-language:HE'>.</span><span dir=LTR style='color:black;mso-bidi-language:
HE'><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal dir=RTL style='margin-right:.5in;text-align:right;
direction:rtl;unicode-bidi:embed'><span dir=LTR style='color:black;mso-bidi-language:
HE'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><span style='color:black;
mso-bidi-language:HE'>We <span class=GramE>are forced</span> to believe the
words of the Greeks, that rainbows naturally result from the sun’s rays shining
on moist air—because a rainbow-like image can be seen in a container of water
placed in front of the sun.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><u><span lang=HE dir=RTL
style='color:black;mso-bidi-language:HE'><o:p><span style='text-decoration:
none'> </span></o:p></span></u></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black;mso-bidi-language:HE'>With this
observation in mind, the Ramban notes that although<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal dir=RTL style='text-align:right;direction:rtl;unicode-bidi:
embed'><span dir=LTR style='color:black;mso-bidi-language:HE'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><span lang=HE dir=RTL
style='color:black;mso-bidi-language:HE'>המשמע
מן "האות הזה"
שלא היה קשת
בענן ממעשה
בראשית, ועתה
ברא ה' חדשה
לעשות קשת </span><span
style='color:black;mso-bidi-language:HE'><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal dir=RTL style='margin-right:.5in;text-align:right;
direction:rtl;unicode-bidi:embed'><span lang=HE style='color:black;mso-bidi-language:
HE'>בשמים ביום
ענן<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal dir=RTL style='margin-right:.5in;text-align:right;
direction:rtl;unicode-bidi:embed'><span lang=HE style='color:black;mso-bidi-language:
HE'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><span dir=LTR></span><span
style='color:black;mso-bidi-language:HE'><span dir=LTR></span>“This sign”
implies that from the time of Creation rainbows had never before appeared in
clouds, and now Hashem created a new phenomenon, making a rainbow in the sky on
cloudy days,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><span style='color:black;
mso-bidi-language:HE'><span style='mso-spacerun:yes'> </span></span><span
style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'>Nevertheless,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal dir=RTL style='margin-right:.5in;text-align:justify;
direction:rtl;unicode-bidi:embed'><span lang=HE style='color:black;mso-bidi-language:
HE'>וכאשר נסתכל
עוד בלשון
הכתוב נבין כן</span><span
lang=AR-SA style='color:black'>, </span><span lang=HE style='color:black;
mso-bidi-language:HE'>כי אמר את
קשתי </span><span lang=AR-SA style='color:black'>"</span><span
lang=HE style='color:black;mso-bidi-language:HE'>נתתי</span><span
lang=AR-SA style='color:black'>" </span><span lang=HE style='color:black;
mso-bidi-language:HE'>בענן</span><span lang=AR-SA
style='color:black'>, </span><span lang=HE style='color:black;mso-bidi-language:
HE'>ולא אמר </span><span lang=AR-SA
style='color:black'>"</span><span lang=HE style='color:black;mso-bidi-language:
HE'>אני נותן</span><span lang=AR-SA
style='color:black'>" </span><span lang=HE style='color:black;mso-bidi-language:
HE'>בענן--כאשר
אמר זאת אות
הברית אשר
"אני נותן". ומלת
<b style='mso-ansi-font-weight:normal'>קשתי</b>
מורה שהיתה לו
הקשת תחלה.</span><span lang=HE
style='color:black'> </span><span lang=HE style='color:black;mso-bidi-language:
HE'>ולכן נפרש
הכתוב</span><span lang=AR-SA style='color:black'>,
</span><span lang=HE style='color:black;mso-bidi-language:HE'>הקשת
אשר נתתי בענן
מיום הבריאה
תהיה מן היום הזה
והלאה לאות
ברית</span><span lang=AR-SA style='color:black'>..</span><span
lang=HE style='color:black;mso-bidi-language:HE'>. ובין
שתהיה הקשת
עתה בין שהיתה
מעולם בטבע, הטעם
באות שבה אחד
הוא.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal dir=RTL style='margin-right:.5in;text-align:right;
direction:rtl;unicode-bidi:embed'><span lang=HE style='color:black;mso-bidi-language:
HE'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><span style='color:black;
mso-bidi-language:HE'>When we closely examine the terminology that appears
farther on, we [see that we must] explain it in this way [that rainbows already
appeared before the Flood]. For Hashem said, “I <u>placed</u> <span
class=GramE>My</span> rainbow in the cloud, and He did not say “I am <u>placing</u>
[My rainbow] in the cloud. And the wording “<u>My</u> rainbow” [also] indicates
that He had the rainbow before. Therefore, we explain the verses: “The rainbow
that I had placed in the cloud from the day of the Creation, shall be, from
this day on, a sign of a covenant.” But whether the rainbow was something that
first came into existence now [not through natural causes, but miraculously],
or had always been a natural phenomenon, the idea of the sign it contains is
one and the same.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal dir=RTL style='text-align:right;direction:rtl;unicode-bidi:
embed'><span dir=LTR style='color:black;mso-bidi-language:HE'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black;mso-bidi-language:HE'>So the Ramban
prefers to say as Rav Saadia Gaon, that rainbows are natural phenomena, and the
Ibn Ezra tolerates that position as well.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black;mso-bidi-language:HE'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black;mso-bidi-language:HE'>We are
therefore faced with a problem: None of these commentators, in discussing the
issue of whether rainbows are natural and whether they ever appeared before <span
class=SpellE>Noach’s</span> Flood, make any mention of the <span class=SpellE><span
class=GramE><i>mishnah</i></span></span> in <i>Ahvos</i> that<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black;mso-bidi-language:HE'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<ul style='margin-top:0in' type=disc>
<li class=MsoNormal style='color:black;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo1;tab-stops:list .5in'><span
style='mso-bidi-language:HE'>lists the rainbow as a special phenomenon
among the nine other phenomena that<o:p></o:p></span></li>
</ul>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black;mso-bidi-language:HE'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<ul style='margin-top:0in' type=disc>
<li class=MsoNormal style='color:black;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo1;tab-stops:list .5in'><span
style='mso-bidi-language:HE'>the Rambam treats as miracles, that <o:p></o:p></span></li>
</ul>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black;mso-bidi-language:HE'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<ul style='margin-top:0in' type=disc>
<li class=MsoNormal style='color:black;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo1;tab-stops:list .5in'><span
class=GramE><span style='mso-bidi-language:HE'>do</span></span><span
style='mso-bidi-language:HE'> not conflict with the principle of <span
dir=RTL></span><span lang=HE dir=RTL><span dir=RTL></span>"מה
שנעשה יוא
שיעשה, ואין
כל חדש תחת
השמש"</span><span dir=LTR></span><span
lang=HE><span dir=LTR></span> </span><u>only because</u> they were
implanted in nature at Creation as latent aberrations to be triggered into
actuality at later times.. <o:p></o:p></span></li>
</ul>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black;mso-bidi-language:HE'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black;mso-bidi-language:HE'>One may
answer that, for all we know, they may interpret the <span class=SpellE><span
class=GramE>mishnah</span></span> in <i>Ahvos</i> differently from how the
Rambam does. E.g., one may point out that the <span class=SpellE><span
class=GramE>mishnah</span></span> may simply be read that these ten things were
created <u>in actuality</u> at the sixth day’s twilight,* and the common factor
among them is something other than anything to do with the miraculous.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black;mso-bidi-language:HE'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.25in'><span style='color:black;
mso-bidi-language:HE'>*Rabbi Dovid <span class=SpellE>Kornreich</span> has
pointed out that</span><span style='mso-bidi-language:HE'>:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.25in'><span style='mso-bidi-language:
HE'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.75in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l2 level1 lfo3;
tab-stops:list .75in'><![if !supportLists]><span style='font-family:Symbol;
mso-fareast-font-family:Symbol;mso-bidi-font-family:Symbol;color:black;
mso-bidi-language:HE'><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>·<span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'>
</span></span></span><![endif]><span dir=LTR><span style='mso-bidi-language:
HE'>According to Rashi, the Manna existed since Creation in actuality (not
merely potential, <i>ala</i> the Rambam), but was located in heaven and only <i>descended</i>
later when the Jews came to the <span class=SpellE>midbar</span><span lang=HE
dir=RTL style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal dir=RTL style='margin-right:.25in;text-align:right;
text-indent:3.0pt;direction:rtl;unicode-bidi:embed'><span dir=LTR
style='color:black;mso-bidi-language:HE'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.75in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l2 level1 lfo3;
tab-stops:list .75in'><![if !supportLists]><span style='font-family:Symbol;
mso-fareast-font-family:Symbol;mso-bidi-font-family:Symbol;color:black;
mso-bidi-language:HE'><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>·<span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'>
</span></span></span><![endif]><span dir=LTR><span style='mso-bidi-language:
HE'>Moshe <span class=SpellE>Rabbeynu’s</span> staff may have existed in actuality
at <span class=SpellE><i>Bereishis</i></span>, only to be discovered later<span
lang=HE dir=RTL style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal dir=RTL style='margin-right:.25in;text-align:right;
text-indent:3.0pt;direction:rtl;unicode-bidi:embed'><span dir=LTR
style='color:black;mso-bidi-language:HE'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.75in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l2 level1 lfo3;
tab-stops:list .75in'><![if !supportLists]><span style='font-family:Symbol;
mso-fareast-font-family:Symbol;mso-bidi-font-family:Symbol;color:black;
mso-bidi-language:HE'><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>·<span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'>
</span></span></span><![endif]><span dir=LTR><span class=SpellE><span
style='mso-bidi-language:HE'>Rabbeinu</span></span></span><span
style='mso-bidi-language:HE'> <span class=SpellE>Yona</span> to <span
class=SpellE>Avos</span> identifies the <span class=SpellE><i>kesav</i></span><i>
</i>with the text of the primordial Torah that Chazal say existed at, if not
before creation<span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.25in'><span style='mso-bidi-language:
HE'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.75in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l2 level1 lfo3;
tab-stops:list .75in'><![if !supportLists]><span style='font-family:Symbol;
mso-fareast-font-family:Symbol;mso-bidi-font-family:Symbol;color:black;
mso-bidi-language:HE'><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>·<span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'>
</span></span></span><![endif]><span dir=LTR><span style='mso-bidi-language:
HE'>The <span class=SpellE><i>michtav</i></span> may well have merely emerged
at <span class=SpellE>Mattan</span> Torah, but existed since Creation<span
lang=HE dir=RTL style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal dir=RTL style='margin-right:.25in;text-align:right;
text-indent:3.0pt;direction:rtl;unicode-bidi:embed'><span dir=LTR
style='color:black;mso-bidi-language:HE'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.75in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l2 level1 lfo3;
tab-stops:list .75in'><![if !supportLists]><span style='font-family:Symbol;
mso-fareast-font-family:Symbol;mso-bidi-font-family:Symbol;color:black;
mso-bidi-language:HE'><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>·<span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'>
</span></span></span><![endif]><span dir=LTR><span style='mso-bidi-language:
HE'>The <span class=SpellE><i>luchos</i></span><i> </i>were discovered at <span
class=SpellE>Mattan</span> Torah, but may have existed since <span
class=SpellE>Creaiton</span><span lang=HE dir=RTL style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.25in'><span style='mso-bidi-language:
HE'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.75in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l2 level1 lfo3;
tab-stops:list .75in'><![if !supportLists]><span style='font-family:Symbol;
mso-fareast-font-family:Symbol;mso-bidi-font-family:Symbol;color:black;
mso-bidi-language:HE'><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>·<span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'>
</span></span></span><![endif]><span dir=LTR><span style='mso-bidi-language:
HE'>The <span class=SpellE><i>shamir</i></span> worm may have been created at <span
class=SpellE>Bereishis</span>, only to be discovered later<span lang=HE
dir=RTL style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal dir=RTL style='margin-right:.25in;text-align:right;
direction:rtl;unicode-bidi:embed'><span dir=LTR style='color:black;mso-bidi-language:
HE'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.75in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l2 level1 lfo3;
tab-stops:list .75in'><![if !supportLists]><span style='font-family:Symbol;
mso-fareast-font-family:Symbol;mso-bidi-font-family:Symbol;color:black;
mso-bidi-language:HE'><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>·<span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'>
</span></span></span><![endif]><span dir=LTR><span style='mso-bidi-language:
HE'>The <span class=SpellE><i>mezikin</i></span><i> </i>existed since Creation.
<span class=SpellE>Rabbeinu</span> <span class=SpellE>Bachya</span> quotes a
Midrash which says this quite clearly.<span lang=HE dir=RTL style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.25in'><span style='color:black;
mso-bidi-language:HE'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black;mso-bidi-language:HE'>If, contra
the Rambam, the ten things listed were not all miraculous phenomena planted in
nature in latent form, to emerge in actuality only later, what common factor is
there that brings them together in the <span class=SpellE><i>mishna’s</i></span>
list? Perhaps the unique characteristic these ten things </span>is that
(whether miraculous or natural) they were <i>non-human conveyors of special
messages from Hashem</i>--even the <span lang=HE dir=RTL style='mso-bidi-language:
HE'>מן</span><span dir=LTR></span><span dir=LTR></span> was to
teach <span lang=HE dir=RTL style='color:black;mso-bidi-language:HE'>וַיְעַנְּךָ
וַיַּרְעִבֶךָ
וַיַּאֲכִלְךָ
אֶת</span><span lang=AR-SA dir=RTL style='color:black'>-</span><span
lang=HE dir=RTL style='color:black;mso-bidi-language:HE'>הַמָּן
אֲשֶׁר לֹא</span><span
lang=AR-SA dir=RTL style='color:black'>-</span><span lang=HE dir=RTL
style='color:black;mso-bidi-language:HE'>יָדַעְתָּ
וְלֹא
יָדְעוּן
אֲבֹתֶיךָ
לְמַעַן </span><span lang=HE dir=RTL
style='mso-bidi-language:HE'>הוֹדִיעֲךָ
כִּי לֹא עַל</span><span
lang=AR-SA dir=RTL>-</span><span lang=HE dir=RTL style='mso-bidi-language:HE'>הַלֶּחֶם
לְבַדּוֹ
יִחְיֶה
הָאָדָם כִּי
עַל</span><span lang=AR-SA dir=RTL>-</span><span lang=HE
dir=RTL style='mso-bidi-language:HE'>כָּל</span><span
lang=AR-SA dir=RTL>- </span><span lang=HE dir=RTL style='mso-bidi-language:
HE'>מוֹצָא פִי</span><span
lang=AR-SA dir=RTL>-</span><span lang=HE dir=RTL style='mso-bidi-language:HE'>יְהוָֹה<span
style='color:black'> יִחְיֶה
הָאָדָם</span></span><span
lang=AR-SA dir=RTL style='color:black'>: </span><span dir=LTR></span><span
style='color:black'><span dir=LTR></span>--</span>and the use of the <span
dir=RTL></span><span dir=RTL style='mso-bidi-language:HE'><span dir=RTL></span><span
style='mso-spacerun:yes'> </span><span lang=HE>שמיר</span></span><span
style='mso-bidi-language:HE'>to cut the stones into shape for use of the altar,
taught </span>the lesson that bloodshed—associated with blades —was not to be
associated with the altar. <br>
<br>
In fact, although t<span style='color:black;mso-bidi-language:HE'>he <span
class=SpellE>Meiri</span> supports the Rambam’s principle, he indeed rejects
this idea as the intention of this <span class=SpellE><span class=GramE>mishnah</span></span>
precisely because the list contains things that are not miraculous at all,
including, he says, the rainbow:</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><span style='color:black;
mso-bidi-language:HE'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal dir=RTL style='margin-right:.5in;text-align:right;
direction:rtl;unicode-bidi:embed'><span lang=HE style='color:black;mso-bidi-language:
HE'>ראוי לתמוה
מה ענין לזאת
הכונה הרבה
דברים שהוזכרו
כאן שאין בהם
מופת ודבר
יוצא מדרך
הטבעי, כגון
הקשת,</span><span dir=LTR></span><span lang=HE dir=LTR
style='color:black;mso-bidi-language:HE'><span dir=LTR></span> </span><span
dir=RTL></span><span lang=HE style='color:black;mso-bidi-language:HE'><span
dir=RTL></span><span
style='mso-spacerun:yes'> </span>ואילו
של אברהם,
וקברו של משה
רבנו, וכן השמיר
אחר שהיה
בטבעו או
בסגולתו
שיחצוב האבן.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black;mso-bidi-language:HE'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black;mso-bidi-language:HE'>He therefore
finds a common thread among them other than anything to do with the miraculous.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black;mso-bidi-language:HE'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='color:black;background:yellow;mso-highlight:
yellow;mso-bidi-language:HE'>A Solution<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black;background:yellow;mso-highlight:
yellow;mso-bidi-language:HE'>But perhaps the best explanation emerges from the
fact that </span><b><span style='background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow'>the <span
class=SpellE><i>Radak</i></span><i> </i>on the posuk </span></b><b><span
lang=HE dir=RTL style='background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow;mso-bidi-language:
HE'>וקשתי נתתי</span><span
dir=LTR></span><span style='background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow'><span
dir=LTR></span> cites a passage in <i>Breishis Rabbah </i>that says "</span></b><b><span
lang=HE dir=RTL style='background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow;mso-bidi-language:
HE'>נתתי</span><span lang=AR-SA dir=RTL
style='background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow'>--</span></b><b><span lang=HE
dir=RTL style='background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow;mso-bidi-language:HE'>מימי
בראשית</span><span lang=AR-SA dir=RTL
style='background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow'>, </span></b><b><span lang=HE
dir=RTL style='background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow;mso-bidi-language:HE'>לפי
שאין כל חדש
תחת השמש</span></b><span dir=LTR></span><b><span
style='background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow;mso-bidi-language:HE'><span
dir=LTR></span>.</span><span style='background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow'>”</span></b><span
style='background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow'> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow'>This is
an opposing <span class=SpellE><i>shitta</i></span><i> </i>to that gleaned from
the <span class=GramE><i>mishna</i></span><i> </i>in <i>Ahvos</i>. It says not
only that<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow'>(a) <span
class=GramE>the</span> rainbow existed in actuality (not just potentially)
since Creation, but that<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow'>(b) <span
class=GramE><u>the</u></span><u> reason for saying so is that Hashem never
changes nature after Creation.</u> As the Rambam expounds in his writings,
while Hashem does indeed enact short-lived aberrations in nature (implanted in
latent form at Creation), He does not create new entities that thereon remain
in existence forever.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow'>Thus, <b>we
have found a Midrash that states that the rainbow, which is a recurrent
phenomenon, <u>is a natural</u>—<u>not miraculous</u>—phenomenon that must have
existed since Creation.</b><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal dir=RTL style='text-align:right;direction:rtl;unicode-bidi:
embed'><b><span lang=HE style='background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow;
mso-bidi-language:HE'><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow'>Evidently,
although this <i>Breishis Rabbah</i> passage is no longer extant, not only the <span
class=SpellE>Radak</span>, but also Rav Saadia Gaon, the Ibn Ezra and the
Ramban knew of this passage, and knew therefore that: Even if the author of the
<i>Ahvos <span class=SpellE>mishnah</span></i> held that<span
style='mso-spacerun:yes'> </span>the ten things in his list were all
miraculous phenomena that did not materialize until long after Creation,<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow'><br>
(a) Chazal did not have a single viewpoint on the matter, which left it open to
analysis (between the viewpoints offered) for an original suggestion or, better
yet, as the Rambam explains<span class=GramE>,</span><br>
<br>
(b) <span class=SpellE>Chazal's</span> principle that </span></b><b><span
lang=HE dir=RTL style='background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow;mso-bidi-language:
HE'>העולם
כמנהגו הולך</span><span
dir=LTR></span><span style='background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow'><span
dir=LTR></span>, based upon the <i>posuk </i></span></b><b><span lang=HE
dir=RTL style='background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow;mso-bidi-language:HE'>אין
כל חדש תחת
השמש</span><span dir=LTR></span><span style='background:
yellow;mso-highlight:yellow'><span dir=LTR></span>, is so over-arching that it
outweighs the opposing <span class=SpellE><i>shitta</i></span> implied in the <i>Ahvos</i>
<span class=SpellE><i>mishnah</i></span>.</span></b><br style='mso-special-character:
line-break'>
<![if !supportLineBreakNewLine]><br style='mso-special-character:line-break'>
<![endif]></p>
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