As a result of the libelous slander of the Frankists (followers of Sabbatai Zevi, the archbishop of Kamenitz decreed that all Hebrew books of the communities in his jurisdiction should be burned. On this day, he suffered a miraculous downfall and the decree was annulled. (Imrei Pinchas, 2003 ed., vol. 1, pp. 496–498)
The explosion of some barrels of gunpowder that had been caught on fire resulted in the collapse of a number of nearby buildings, placing Rabbi Yaakov Yehoshua Falk in mortal danger. In distress, he pledged that if he would survive, he would commit himself to studying the Talmud and its commentaries. He was miraculously saved, and went on to author his classic Talmudic commentary, Pnei Yehoshua. (Introduction of the author to the above work)
After overcoming the Greek forces, the Hasmoneans cleared the Temple from the idolatrous images that had been erected there. (Megilat Taanit ch. 9)
We all suffer a maddening delusion of being something separate from G‑d. The delusion of “I.”
We cannot heal it, because yes, we exist, for He created us.
We cannot live with it, because this chilling notion of otherness is a denial of the truth.
But we can resolve it in the act of learning Torah. In learning Torah, He speaks with us. If there were no other, with whom would He speak?
We can resolve it in prayer. In prayer, we speak with Him. If there were no other, who would speak with Him?
We can resolve it in every mitzvah. Through every mitzvah, we become one with Him. If there were no other, two would not become one.
Now the reality of our otherness is no longer simply a delusion, but a treasured artifact of a divine desire: that two should become one.
As Adam, the primal human, said, “This ‘I’ was created to serve its Creator.”