Between God’s Action and Human Action: On the Transformation of the Understanding of the Concept of Miracle in Jewish Thought
Adam ŚWIEŻYŃSKI
Katedra Filozofii Przyrody, Instytut Filozofii, Wydział Filozofii Chrześcijańskiej, Uniwersytet Kardynała Stefana Wyszyńskiego, ul. Wóycickiego 1/3, 01-938 Warszawa, Poland , PolandAbstract
The aim of this article is to present and explain the transformation that the understanding of the concept of miracle has undergone in Jewish philosophy. Initially, during the medieval period, Jewish thinkers sought to rationalize the possibility of miraculous events. In the modern and contemporary periods, the traditional understanding of miracle as a special action of God in the world (in nature and in history) has been challenged. The decisive factor affecting the change in the understanding of miracle was the event of the Holocaust. Today, the concept of miracle is understood by Jewish philosophers primarily in terms of the rebirth of the state of Israel and its continuance despite all adverse circumstances. The miracle is thus mainly associated with human action, an act that is performed in the everyday life of the Jewish community by its members. It can therefore be shown that in Jewish philosophy there has been a significant transformation in the understanding of the miracle in terms of its origin and meaning, although at the same time the awe and wonder it evokes in human consciousness remain an enduring element.
Keywords:
Jewish philosophy, miracle, Holocaust, JudaismReferences
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Katedra Filozofii Przyrody, Instytut Filozofii, Wydział Filozofii Chrześcijańskiej, Uniwersytet Kardynała Stefana Wyszyńskiego, ul. Wóycickiego 1/3, 01-938 Warszawa, Poland
