Why Doesn't Hashem Present Sinai Again So We All Believe?

Yossi Sarid was a Member of the Knesset known for his atheistic views. In an interview, he described an experience of clinical death, in which he felt his soul leave his body and observed the world from above. He stated boldly that this experience of the soul's eternity and existence has no connection to the existence of a spiritual world or divine oversight. This statement amused even the secular interviewer, who wondered why the experience did not change Sarid's view regarding a spiritual soul's existence. Sarid's surprising response was "What happened to me does not fit with my 'I believe.'" This reality demonstrates that even those who experience miraculous spiritual events might not change their life direction. A person who does not want to believe will not, regardless of their experiences. If one does not want to see the truth, they will provide themselves with endless weak excuses to escape the clear truth. The path to truth is not through seeking astounding miracles, but through a sincere and true search for answers, introspection, and common sense. Those who wish to find the truth will.

The event at Mount Sinai was unique to the generation of those who left Egypt. This generation, beginning with the Ten Plagues, through the splitting of the sea, the event at Mount Sinai, and throughout the years in the desert, was led by miraculous guidance. This guidance was designed for the period of the Jewish nation's formation after leaving Egypt, to instill the initial recognition and faith of the Nation of Israel in the Creator, as they had no previous evidence to rely upon regarding Hashem. At that time, the Israelites were not yet acquainted with Hashem, so He demonstrated His control over nature through miracles. However, this guidance was meant only for its time and not as a permanent way.

One reason Hashem does not want to lead us with miraculous guidance is that this would negate human free will. Hashem wants us to choose good through free choice, through trials and challenges, not as programmed robots acting without choice. To preserve free choice, Hashem leads us in a way of concealment. Another reason for not performing miracles is that miracles, which show God's presence in a tangible way, can bring judgment upon a person. A person who has witnessed miraculous events performed by Hashem and thereafter acts contrary to His command will be punished more severely and immediately than another who committed the same sin but was not granted such miracles. To prevent judgment and merit long-suffering guidance, we do not seek miracles beyond nature.

Thus, seeing Hashem face-to-face or experiencing another Mount Sinai event will not be possible, nor advisable for the reasons stated above, but divine reality can be proven and known through its manifestations – the intricate and sophisticated creation that bears witness to a Creator's hand, and the divinity of the Torah that can be proven..

How should we relate to descriptions of miracles in our sages' writings that seem illogical relative to nature?<\/strong>Rabbi Zamir Cohenanswers:<\/strong>