Looking for Miracles? Rabbi Yigal Cohen on the True Amulet for Salvation

Many Jews today search for miraculous interventions, seeking amulets for miracles, appealing to scholars for blessings, and traveling to the graves of the righteous to pray for divine advocacy. Some inspect their mezuzahs as a solution to their suffering, while others partake in numerous rituals to ease their pain.

In truth, all these acts are commendable and correct.

But there is a fundamental lesson that our Sages taught us, which precedes all mentioned practices – to scrutinize our deeds!

As it says in the Talmud, Berachot (5), if a person sees suffering befalling them, they should examine their actions.

Countless times I've been asked by my students – why is Hashem doing this to me? I've done many good deeds, given charity, read Psalms, believed, so why hasn't He saved me?

But they do not realize their actions have caused their troubles, yet they complain to the Creator, as King Solomon wisely said in Proverbs (19:3) "A person's folly ruins their life, yet their heart rages against Hashem." It means a person makes all possible mistakes, and when suffering arrives, they unjustly blame the Creator.

About a year ago, a Jew approached me seeking help. 'Rabbi, I have no blessing in my finances, I work very hard, and my wife also works long hours, yet we are 40,000 shekels in debt and still renting. What should we do?' he concluded.

First, I tried to understand the root of the problem. Do you tithe from your salary? I asked. Yes, exactly! he answered. So, I reviewed actions that bring poverty upon a person. I discovered he treated his wife rudely, disregarded her opinions, and acted as if marrying her was a favor.

I immediately answered him: Know this! It is stated in the Talmud (Bava Metzia, 59) that a person should always be cautious with their wife's honor, as blessings in a home exist because of her, as it says (Genesis 12:15) "And to Abram, they did good because of her." The Talmud continues, as Rava told his students: cherish your wives, and in their merit, you will become wealthy; otherwise, the opposite results occur.

I concluded by saying:

"No amulet in the world, nor blessings and prayers from the greatest tzaddikim will help you if you continue disrespecting your wife, as Hashem is angered by a husband who harms his wife. Go and cherish her with words and gifts, according to your ability, and even beyond, and with G-d's help, you will certainly witness Hashem's salvation."

Measure for Measure

Hashem governs the world with measure for measure. A person who disrespects others' money, such as not repaying loans on time and failing to apologize to the lender, ignoring the loan as if it never existed, or someone who is lax in paying the grocer on time, or delays payments for services without a just reason, and especially if one is negligent with work hours to tend to personal affairs, having part of their salary tainted as theft, surely does not trust the Creator at all and should not anticipate the Creator's gifts.

A Jew who knows there is a Creator, and that justice prevails, will never take anything not rightfully theirs, understanding that what the Creator has decreed for them will be received rightfully and justly, not through lies and theft chalilah.

A cherished Jew approached me – who, baruch Hashem, greatly contributes to our study house, strives to dedicate time for Torah study, and consults me on financial matters to avoid, chalilah, transgressions of theft – and asked: Rabbi, I strive to do G-d's will, both with my body and my money, yet I was deceived by a group of fraudsters out of 90,000 shekels. Why did this happen to me?

I stood bewildered, and a bit offended, questioning if the Creator would, chalilah, cause such a loss to someone so diligently trying to fulfill His will.

I replied that I don't know how to explain why this happened, but it's certain that Hashem didn't do this to you without reason. Examine your actions, and we will pray together for the Creator to return your money swiftly!

Months later, this righteous person approached me again with a question concerning his work. To my amazement, I discovered through his question that he was regularly guilty of outright theft according to the Torah.

While he waited for my response, I asked him: Do you remember being swindled out of 90,000 shekels? Of course! he replied. I added, do you still not understand why?

You surely understand my response to him:

"Thank Hashem for not taking much more from you, as you are almost daily stealing from others and still wonder why!"

"Yes, you tell yourself 'but everyone in my industry does this,' true indeed, and they are all considered thieves, yourself included."

I concluded by saying: "Stop your dubious actions immediately, return what you have taken unlawfully, apologize to the Creator for your deeds, and I am certain you will recover your money."

And baruch Hashem, in His vast mercy, it wasn't long before this same Jew came to me with the news that his money had miraculously been returned.

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