Yoma 21

What is considered a miracle? Today’s daf deals with just that. The conversation is started with the following miracle – that of having enough space:

Rav Yehuda said that Rav said: When the Jewish people ascend to Jerusalem for the pilgrimage Festivals they stand crowded, but when they bow during confession they are spaced so that no one hears the confession of another. And due to the large crowd they extend eleven cubits behind the Hall of the Ark Cover, the Holy of Holies. The Gemara asks: What is he saying in the reference to eleven cubits behind the Holy of Holies? The Gemara explains that this is what he is saying: Even though the crowd is so large that the people extend eleven cubits behind the Hall of the Ark Cover and people stand crowded, still, when they bow, they bow spaced.

This is beautiful. Space for everyone to be present, and yet, space for everyone to have privacy. I can’t help but think of the tragedy of the Lag BaOmer trampling that left at least 45 dead, as there was a huge crowd, but apparently, not enough space. It really emphasises the marvellousness of the miracle described in this piece of Gemara.

The daf continues:

And that is one of the ten miracles that were performed in the Temple. As we learned in a mishna: Ten miracles were performed in the Temple.

Then it goes on to list more than ten. And that is my gem: That when we look to find miracles in our lives, we will often be surprised by how many there are if we only take the time to look.

Try it. Try to find 10. See how it helps you to open up your eyes to the miracles that surround us.