You will be protected

Hi,

Regarding Daniel 3, and the Divine rescue of Chananiah, Mishael and Azariah from the fiery furnace, after they refused to bow to King Nevuchadnezzar's statue:

"This story is also a lesson for the nation in their exile, under the decrees and destruction the kings of the nations issue in their lands, among their nations, and amid the great dangers they bear in exile, like a burning, fiery furnace, to let them know that the malach of Gd will never leave them, and Gd's supervision will not abandon them."

(Don Isaac Abarbanel, Maayanei haYeshuah, Maayan 6 Tamar 3)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Jews and Dates, Part II - The Date as a Devoted Martyr

Hi,

"Rabbi Shemuel bar Nachmeni cited R’ Yonatan: ‘I said I would ascend the date tree and hold on to its bunches (Song of Songs)’ – ‘I said I would ascend the date tree’ refers to Israel, but now I only grasped one bunch: Chananiah, Mishael and Azaryah."

(Talmud, Sanhedrin 93a)

Have a great day (and note the connection between this post and yesterday's post),
Mordechai

The mandate of a miracle

Hi,

"Rabbi Tanchum bar Chanilai said: When Chananiah, Mishael and Azaryah exited the fiery furnace, all of the nations of the world came and slapped the Jews on their faces and declared, 'You have this Gd and yet you bow to an idol?!'

"Immediately, the Jews proclaimed (Daniel 9:7), 'Justice is with You, Gd, and embarrassment with us, like this very day.'"

(Talmud, Sanhedrin 93a)

Have a great day,
Mordechai