Miracles Year-Round

Rabbi Chaim Kanievsky, zt”zl, tells the following story:

Two Jews who were destined to die were walking on the road. The Angel of Death had already been dispatched from Heaven to take them both. But then, an old man crossed their path, and one of them gave him some coins. The Angel of Death immediately appeared. He told the person who gave charity that his act of kindness had saved his life. He told the second person that he had come to take his soul. The second man begged the Angel of Death to wait just a moment while he would also give the old man some coins. The Angel of Death told him that it was too late, since he had already missed the opportunity. The Jew said: “If so, then just give me two minutes to thank G-d, because I am accustomed to thanking Hashem daily.”
 
The Angel of Death stepped aside and the Jew said as follows: “Thank You, Master of the Universe, for the life that You have given me. Thank You for everything that You have done for me in this life. Thank You for wanting to take my soul, so that now I will be close to You.” He thanked Hashem in this manner for two minutes. The Angel of Death came to him and said, “Not only can I not take your soul now, but you have been given extra years over and above the years of life originally allotted you.”
 
This is a touching story that shows how thanksgiving is even greater than charity. Thanksgiving saved the Jew from death even after he “missed the boat” with charity, and also added extra years to his life.
 
Our Sages direct us to recite Psalm 67 frequently in our prayers: In the morning before Baruch She’amar, in the afternoon after Kadish Titkabal, in the Midnight Lamentations, during the Counting of the Omer, on Chanukah after lighting the candles and more. Let us investigate what we say in this Psalm:
 
“May Hashem be gracious unto us, and bless us; may He cause His countenance to shine toward us; Selah.” We ask Hashem to shine His countenance upon us. His ‘countenance’ means we see that everything that happens is His mercy.
 
“That Your way may be known upon earth, Your salvation amongst all nations.” We ask for the ability to make Hashem’s way known to the entire world.
 
“Then The nations will thank You…” Everyone will thank G-d, in all the languages and dialects.
 
“The nations will be glad and sing for joy…” The entire world will be filled with songs of praise to Hashem, all the nations will dance in circles…
 
The ultimate purpose of the entire world is for humans to believe in G-d. Belief in Hashem means belief that everything is for the best, that there is no bad and that we must thank Hashem for everything – always.
 
Hashem brought a wondrous light down to the world. Emuna, and the gratitude to Hashem that results from true emuna, are not only this wonderful light, but a wonderful path to a beautiful life – a true Garden of Eden! If a person believes that every trouble in the world is for the best and thanks Hashem with all his heart and with joy, he will see salvation. All that he has to do is believe.
 
The Al Hanissim prayer that we pray during the entire eight days of Chanuka thanks Hashem for the magnificent miracle He did for us during the time of the Maccabees. But people forget that miracles are with us every single day, for in our daily Modim prayer, we explicitly say, “We thank You for all Your miracles…the Good, Whose mercy has not ended.” A person who thanks Hashem for the miracles achieves “the Good, Whose mercy has not ended.” He merits Hashem’s endless mercy and sees more and more miracles all year long.
 
The Modim prayer continues to bless and glorify and exalt G-d. “And for everything may He be blessed and exalted…the Hashem of salvations, Selah.” The person experiences only eternal salvations, because selah means eternal. When everyone constantly gives thanks to Hashem, we will see more miracles and salvations, until the complete redemption. Happy Chanuka!