Hot answers tagged miracle
10
The source of this ruling is the Rama to OC 187:4 (repeated again in 682:1). The Shaarei Teshuva on the spot (sk 3*) asks your question and gives two possible answers:
The request is made in plural whereas the problem of praying for miracles is (apparently) only for personal ones.
The request is for miracles which come about through the natural order of ...
9
It's approximating π, as is clear from the g'mara (Eruvin 14:1).
The problem is that that g'mara seems to be saying that it's a pretty precise approximation, and we know it's not. (Tosafos there raise this question and offer no answer.)
But to answer your question, whether it's an approximation of π or a miracle, it's the former.
7
Wikipedia has a set of answers in their article on Approximations of pi. That links to a terrific article on rabbinic approximations of π by Boaz Tsaban and David Garber. Tsaban and Garber summarize as follows (pp. 10-11):
The rational-religious approach of Maimonides holds that, since we cannot know the exact values, the Bible tells us that we do ...
6
The Gemara you are looking for is in Bava Kamma 117:b. Rav Yochanon revived Rav Kahana after having caused his death and according to the second Pshat of Rashi, Rav Kahana told him he prefers to remain dead then to experience death again.
6
Rabbi Chanina bar Chama brought back one of Antoninus' servants to life (Avodah Zara 10b):
Rabbi Haninah bar Hama thereupon went out but found that the man had been slain. Thought he, “How shall I act now? Shall I call and say that the man is dead?—but one should not bring a sad report; shall I leave him and walk away?—that would be slighting the king.”
...
6
here is one from Megillah 7b (via dafyomi.co.il)
(a) (Rava): A person is obligated to become drunk on Purim until he cannot distinguish 'cursed is Haman' from 'blessed is Mordechai.'
(b) Rabah and R. Zeira ate their Purim Seudah together; Rabah got drunk and slaughtered R. Zeira. The next day he prayed, and restored him to life.
1. The next year, Rabah ...
4
The Ramban addresses this in his commentary to B'reishis 17:17. He explains that miracle of Yitzchok's birth was not the age of Avraham or Sarah (as Avraham later had children from Keturah (Hagar) when he was 140). At that time, as long as people remained fertile they could still conceive children past age hundred. Rather, the miracle was in the fact that ...
4
The GR"A points out the following:
The word circumference (kav) is spelled קוה but pronounced קו. The gematria of the former is 111 and the latter is 106. The ratio of 111 to 106, multiplied by the approximation of 3, gives you:
(111 / 106) * 3 = 3.1415
Perhaps pi to five digits is a better approximation than 3?
3
1) Wikipedia says Nahmanides identifies the Sambation with the Guzana River mentioned in II Kings, located in Medes.
2)Ba'al Ov involves a process of bringing the Dead to speak with a live person. For more info see this link.
3) A quick google search reveals no known burial place for Tornosrufus. As far as I know we have no Mesorah where he is buried to go ...
3
Here is something I wrote about this last year:
One of the most famous questions asked about חנוכה is known as “The Beis Yosef’s Question”. The גמרא explains the reason for the celebration of חנוכה is because the Jews found only one flask of oil containing enough oil to light the מנורה for just one day. A miracle occurred and the oil lasted for eight days. ...
3
The Lubavitcher Rebbe (Likkutey Sichos vol. 23 pg. 153) asks what is unique about the two miracles of the splitting of the sea and the miracle of Nachal Arnon that we find specifically on these two occasions the Jewish people sang Shira.
He explains that these miracles were unique in that not only did Hashem help them, but they did not have to do anything ...
2
Ralbag explains that the reason for the silence was so the inhabitants not hear them. Thus, presumably, they could speak quietly, and the "וְלֹא יֵצֵא מִפִּיכֶם דָּבָר" was overly emphatic in order to make sure they didn't speak loudly. (Note that that command to be quiet was not noted as having been fulfilled, and I have no reason to think that the entire ...
2
How to explain to an atheist? Don't look to Johnny:
Nine-year-old Joey was asked by his mother what he had learned in Sunday School.
'Well, Mom, our teacher told us how God sent Moses behind enemy lines on a rescue mission to lead the Israelites out of Egypt . When he got to the Red Sea, he had his army build a pontoon bridge and all the people ...
2
YES!!
Chovos Halevavos Shaar Habitachon middle of chapter 3:
If a man strengthens himself in the service of G-d, chooses to fear G-d, trusts in Him on matters of torah and matters of this world, steers away from bad things and desires good midot (character traits), does not rebel in times of plenty, does not turn towards leisure, does not follow his ...
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