Remembering Miracles

March 31, 2008

By Charleeda Sprinkle, Assistant Editor

On May 8, Israel will celebrate her 60th anniversary. The independence that was won by the Jewish people, with the help of the Almighty, will forever be engrained on their hearts. Here are a few miracles, seldom recorded, that occurred during the past 60 years as recounted by Perry Stone in a New York Jewish Times article.

When the British evacuated Bet She’an just prior to Israel’s declaration of statehood, they left the border guard camp to the Jews and the police station to the Arabs. In a “battle” to possess the city, a Jewish battalion—possessing only two mortars—decided to trick the Arabs into giving up the city. They created 20 fake cannons out of large irrigation pipes and wagon wheels and surrounded the city with them. They fired one mortar and told the Arabs they were surrounded by new cannons. After firing the second mortar, the Arabs surrendered on May 12, 1948. The “battle” is sometimes appropriately referred to as Operation Gideon!

As a week-old nation, with very few guns and little ammunition, Israel faced an array of Arab nations as soon as independence was declared. In desperation and hoping a little ingenuity would work, on May 23, 1948, men, women and children lined up anything they could find with an engine along the beach and removed the exhaust pipes. At the same time, oil drums with rocks in them were placed at the top of a hill. When signaled, the engines were started and the drums were rolled down the hill. Early in the morning, the Arabs were unable to see where the noise was coming from. They thought America had brought in Sherman tanks and fled!

In 1956, Egypt sent one of their ships to Haifa. Israel had one beat-up hull of a ship, which they painted. Then they made huge paper Mache missiles and placed them on the deck! When the Egyptian ship arrived, Israel sent a warning that they had a new ship with very large missiles and ordered an immediate surrender. Oddly enough, the Egyptians surrendered! (In July 1956, Israel commissioned their first two destroyers, and during the Sinai Campaign, or Suez Crisis, they captured an Egyptian flagship, towed it to Haifa, and later commissioned it as the third destroyer of their fleet.)

During the Six-Day War in 1967, in the Sinai Desert, a Jewish soldier was severely wounded. A journalist observed that his intestines were hanging out, and he was about to die. Yet, the man began praying that God had the ability to heal him. Suddenly, the man screamed and jumped up from the cot. His intestines were back inside his body! He was entirely healed and ran out of the tent praising God!

Another source lists 35 miracles during the 1991 Gulf War when Israel was hit by Scud missiles. Most are about people being in the “wrong” place at the right time. A man walked into his bathroom just as a missile strike began. When he came out, the rest of his house had been destroyed! Others are about missiles that didn’t go off, such as one that went down an airshaft of a nine-story apartment building but didn’t explode! And, as testimony to the power of prayer, a national day of prayer was called for February 27, attended by the prime minister, the president, the religious affairs minister, and both chief rabbis. On February 28, Iraq agreed to a UN cease-fire plan! This was also the eve of Purim, which commemorates the deliverance of the Jews from their enemies through Esther.

Passover, celebrated in April, marks the time when God—through a series of miraculous events—delivered the Jewish people from slavery in Egypt. During the holiday, Jews everywhere remember God’s miracle-working power. This Passover, remember that Moses didn’t have a monopoly on miracles. God is still in the miracle-working business!

During the eight days of Passover, no leaven or leavened products are eaten as prescribed in Leviticus 23. If you are going to skip leavened bread and desserts for Passover, here is a great substitute for cake.

Meringue Cups with Strawberries

• 5–6 egg whites
• 1¼ c. sugar
• 2–3 lbs. [0.90–1.4 kgs] strawberries

Preheat oven to 250° F [120° C]. Line 2 large baking sheets with parchment paper. Using a cup, draw 6 circles on each paper. Using electric mixer, beat egg whites until soft peaks form. Gradually add sugar, beating until whites are stiff and glossy. Dab corners of parchment with meringue. Turn parchment over (circles will show through). Press on meringue to anchor parchment. Drop generous 1/3 cup meringue onto each circle. Spread meringue with back of spoon to fill circle. Depress centers to form shells. Bake meringues until crisp and almost dry, about 1 hour and 15 minutes. Turn off oven; leave door closed. Let meringues dry in oven for 1 hour longer. Lift meringues from parchment. Wrap airtight to store. Fill cups with sliced, sugared strawberries. For a special topping, drizzle with chocolate sauce.

By Lisa Katz and Dorie Greenspan, About.com

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