Magic and Miracles

re: Sanhedrin Chapter 7

I think that confronting the hard questions is worthwhile. The subject of magic is hard for us. We are probably the first generation in which even the common man does not believe in magic.

So what does the Mishneh mean when it talks about magic?

Something happens

and then there is an attribution ( either before or after the event).

Attribution to GD is good; it is a miracle.

No attribution is acceptable.

Science, OK.

Attribution to other powers is a ( potentially fatal) problem.

Prayer is acceptable, magic is not.

Steven Posner Eulogy

My name is Shlomo Goldberg. I was Steven Posner's personal oncologist for the last 19 years. It was my privilege to serve him.

I think that it was my destiny to be his physician. His disease, Ewing's Sarcoma taxed every skill I had.

Steven's courage, perseverance, stamina, humor and joi de vive was my greatest inspiration.

Only in the end was he the victim of his disease. His presence never conveyed pain and despair, it always brought joy and optimism

Steven was a unique person. He had an understanding of science and Yidishkeit. He made things work in both spheres.

When the electricity failed in the synagogue last Shabbath, I thought that ordinarily it would have been Steven who fixed it. I thought that maybe Heaven was telling us that we would have need to find a new way of coping.

Steven coped with so much. He was rescued from his disease on several occasions and he rescued others. He rescued my daughter, Shoshana when she got locked in the bathroom. He once rescued a man from drowning, he made sure that the Boeing airplanes we fly on are safe.

Shimshon Lazr ben Shayne Blume was Steve's Hebrew name. I would repeat that name in all my prayers for a refuah shelamima, a compelete recovery. I am not sure how I will say refaanu, the prayer for healing, from now on, it will be missing Shimshon Lazer ben Shayne Blumeh. Praying for his recovery helped me pray for the recovery of others

He was a gibor, a hero, like Shimshon, Samson, of the bible. He did battle with cancer and won on several occasions. I am somewhat surprised that his cancer, Ewing's sarcoma, survived the battle it did with our Shimshon.

He was like the sun. He was tall, he stood above us and smiled down upon us and provided us with a special kind of light. A light of reason, a light of hope and a light of triumph over adversity.

I miss Steven I miss helping to care for him, but much more I miss talking with him and listening to him and hoping with him.

His life was courage and hope. He is gone but his courage and hope are an eternal gift to us.