Each year our fourth grade class publishes a book about Miracles. Students share interviews with relatives who feel that they have experienced a miracle in their lives. At the end of the interview, they ask the interviewee about whether they genuinely believe what happened to them was a miracle or a coincidence, after which students reflect on the same question. Jewish tradition is filled with stories that feature the divine, the miraculous, the mystical, and the unexplainable, yet we are taught in Deuteronomy 18:10 “There shall not be found among you anyone who….practices divination, a soothsayer, or an augur, or a sorcerer, or a charmer, or a medium, or a wizard, or a necromancer.” The authors of the bible seem to make a distinction between divinely inspired miracles and forces of magic. This biblical prohibition never stopped Harry Houdini, a Jew from becoming one of the most famous magicians of all times. As a matter of fact, the term Abra Cadabra itself is from the Talmud (Aramaic for “I will create with my words”)!
We are in the final throes of preparing for Yavneh’s Spring Benefit: a Night of Magic on April 7th. This will be an evening at which we will honor two persons who are certainly the definition of divinely inspired mortals: Rebecca and Arnnon Geshuri. Rebecca and Arnie have devoted so much of their energy and time to turning Yavneh into the magical institution that it is. If ever there was a couple deserving of the recognition, it would be Arnnon and Rebecca! The party is sure to be a memorable one with good food, a raffle, magic show and other entertainment as we raise funds to support our school.
Before the main program begins at 5:30pm, all are invited to gather in the Beit Kehillah at 5:00pm to show our appreciation to the Wolff Family as we officially hang a mezuzah and formally dedicate this magical new gathering space.
Whether you view our school as miraculous, divinely inspired or merely magical, I hope that you join us next Sunday, April 7th at 5:00pm in the Beit Kehillah, and at 5:30pm at the JCC Auditorium. There are limited tickets still available (as well as a few babysitting spots). If you have not already done so, please RSVP soon before the seats magically disappear!
Shabbat Shalom -Zvi
