The Israel Collection: Flourishing Life in Dead Sea Lands

BS"D

Desert flowers discovered at Masada near the Dead Sea.

I was recently asked "What comes to mind when you hear the word 'miracles'?"  I sat thinking for a moment.  I know miracles are not exclusive to the level of sea-splitting or sun-stopping, a river turning to blood or a staff morphing into a snake.  If you simply open your eyes, you will see miracles everywhere...  A baby's conception and birth; your waking up every morning; the sun's rays reaching down to a little sapling, nurturing it to shoot higher; and the list is virtually infinite.  

When I was in Israel almost 2 years ago, my family made a trip to Masada in the Dead Sea area.  The rugged beauty was awe-inspiring, and we reflected on all the historical significance that had taken place here, eternal designs woven into the intricate tapestry of our past.  My camera was perpetually in my hand; it was a thrill to be able to capture the incredible sights before my eyes to preserve them for longer, at home and in my memory.  Hiking over the desert surface of Masada, I noticed a shock of dusty colors that stretched forth from the sandy soil.  I drew nearer and crouched down - and lo and behold - it was a cluster of wild desert flowers! 

I couldn't take my gaze away from the delicate form.  As my soul praised, my mind wondered as to how this was even possible - such a beautiful, perfect blossom, flourishing in a profoundly harsh environment? The land thirsts for water; the sun beats down mercilessly; the countless pairs of tourists' feet tread close, ignorantly; and the crumbly soil flecked with pebbles is devoid of nutrients...  Yet this plant lives on, reaching up, a spark of color in a barren stretch of wilderness.  It is an inspiration to us to never give up, no matter how trying and adverse the circumstances are that we find ourselves surrounded by.  Chazal, our Sages, teach us the following in the Talmud:  "Every blade of grass has an angel that bends over it and whispers, Grow! Grow!"  Remember, that angel is only a messenger of Hashem (G-d).  Hashem is forever by your side as well, and He longs for you to strive for your true potential, to become all you were created to be.

Two years have passed since I witnessed this sight in "Nature."  I am inspired by the words of Albert Einstein, when he so famously stated:  "There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle."  As I live and learn, I know that the little flower I was so fortunate to come across is not just a coincidence of the mechanical cycle referred to as "Nature".  There is an Infinite Someone behind it all, and when He shines through the "cracks" of nature, and the "realities" of our limited world and comprehension... that is called a miracle. 

When I was presented with the fine above question - "What comes to mind when you hear the word 'miracles'?" - this little miracle was my answer.

With the onset of a new year and new beginnings, I give my wish for you all to merit to truly see the miracles taking place all around you, at every moment, in every one of your lives.  That's actually a pretty special resolution...