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Why did these ten specific miracles occur in the Temple? The shiur develops the principle 'ein melech b'li am' - God requires human free will to become king, making divine-human partnership superior to unilateral creation. The Temple represents this collaboration of 'two hands,' creating a reality where natural laws don't fully apply and pointing to how validation through free choice operates in marriage and relationships.
Rabbi Zweig begins by examining the Mishna in Pirkei Avos (5:5) that lists ten miracles that occurred in the Temple: women never miscarried from smelling sacrificial meat they couldn't eat, holy meat never spoiled, no flies were seen in the slaughter area, the Kohen Gadol never had disqualifying emissions on Yom Kippur, rain never extinguished the altar fire, wind never dispersed the smoke column, there was always room for prostration during crowded gatherings, snakes and scorpions never harmed anyone in Jerusalem, and no one lacked lodging in Jerusalem. The central question Rabbi Zweig poses is why these specific miracles occurred, as the Rambam (רמב"ם) teaches that miracles must have purpose beyond mere displays of divine power. The analysis centers on a profound passage from Sukkah 5a where Bar Kapara states that 'the activity of the righteous is greater than the creation of heaven and earth.' The Talmud (תלמוד) explains that God created the world with one hand, but regarding the righteous, it uses the plural 'your hands.' This refers to the verse about the sanctuary: 'The sanctuary of the Lord, your hands established.' Rashi (רש"י) explains that the work of the righteous is considered God's work, creating an apparent paradox where human activity is both greater than divine creation and simultaneously attributed to God.
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Pirkei Avos 5:5
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Why does Avos 5:9 define a wise person as one who learns from everyone? Following Rashi's reading, the shiur shows that Torah wisdom differs from secular knowledge because multiple legitimate interpretations coexist as truth. This principle transforms how we approach marriage - moving beyond negotiation to partnerships of continuous mutual learning and growth.
