And thus do you find — Whenever a miracle is performed for

Mekhilta DeRabbi Yishmael Mekhilta Tractate Amalek 2:46

Curated by The Jewish Mythology Team · Published January 9, 2025

The Mekhilta reveals one of the most intimate teachings about the relationship between God and Israel: whenever a miracle is performed for the Jewish people, that miracle is not just something God does from a distance. It is, as it were, performed before Him — God Himself is present in it, invested in it, bound up with it.

The text cites (Isaiah 63:9) to drive this point home: "In all of their afflictions, He was afflicted." When Israel suffers, God does not watch from the heavens with detached sovereignty. He suffers alongside them. The pain of His people is His own pain. This is a radical theological claim — that the infinite Creator of the universe experiences something analogous to human anguish when His chosen nation endures hardship.

And the reverse is equally true. When Israel experiences joy, that joy belongs to God as well. The Mekhilta quotes (1 Samuel 2:1): "I rejoice in Your salvation!" — the salvation of Israel and the joy of God are one and the same event. God's happiness and Israel's happiness are inseparable.

This teaching stands at the heart of Jewish theology. God is not a distant watchmaker who set the universe in motion and stepped back. He is a partner, a parent, a presence who feels what His people feel. Every miracle is a shared experience. Every affliction is borne together. Every celebration echoes in the heavenly court as surely as it echoes on earth.

Themes

Redemption Prophecy Miracles Holy Land

Biblical References

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Mekhilta DeRabbi Yishmael Abba Channan says in the name of R Abba Channan says in the name of R. Elazar: This ("in haste") is the haste of the Shechinah. And even though there is no... Mekhilta DeRabbi Yishmael And thus do you find, that whenever Israel is in bondage And thus do you find, that whenever Israel is in bondage, the Shechinah is with them, viz. (Exodus 24:10) "And they saw ... Mekhilta DeRabbi Yishmael The sages say — "the days of your life"—in this world The sages say: "the days of your life"—in this world; "all the days of your life"—to include the days of the Messiah. Be... Mekhilta DeRabbi Yishmael 20) "And they journeyed from Succoth and they encamped in Eitam (Ibid. 20) "And they journeyed from Succoth and they encamped in Eitam." Just as Eitam is a place, so, Succoth. R. Akiva... Mekhilta DeRabbi Yishmael Yishmael says — In the merit of Jerusalem I will split the R. Yishmael says: In the merit of Jerusalem I will split the sea for them, as it is written (Isaiah 52:1) "Awake, awake,... Mekhilta DeRabbi Yishmael (Exodus 14 — 20) "And it (the cloud) came between the camp of (Exodus 14:20) "And it (the cloud) came between the camp of Egypt and the camp of Israel, and it was cloud and darkness"... Mekhilta DeRabbi Yishmael The tenth (song) in time to come, viz The tenth (song) in time to come, viz. (Isaiah 42;10) "Sing to the L–rd a new song, His praise from the end of the earth... Mekhilta DeRabbi Yishmael And not the heavens alone rejoiced in the redemption of The redemption of Israel was not a private event. According to the Mekhilta, the entire natural world erupted in celebra... Mekhilta DeRabbi Yishmael Eliezer says — It speaks of the Red Sea, viz Rabbi Eliezer offers a breathtaking interpretation of (Song of Songs 2:14), reading each phrase as a reference to the ev...