Mazal

The Talmud at the end of Masechet Shabbat, discusses the question of the validity of reading the stars. There were many astrologers that lived during the Talmudic period, who regularly challenged Jewish scholars on the subject.

It is interesting to note that these scholars did not negate the predictions of these star gazers. They felt that it was within the power of the Jew, to overcome these predictions.

The famous story of the daughter of Rabbi Akiva was one example. He received a prediction that his daughter would die on her wedding day. Rabbi Akiva did not dismiss this as foolishness, but was very worried that this horrible prediction would come true.

The daughter was miraculously saved when she stuck her brooch in the wall. The next morning, they found that the brooch had killed the snake, that would have killed her.

She was asked by her relieved father what she had done, to merit such a miracle. She explained that during the tumult of the wedding preparations, the cries of a poor person, were heard only by her. She compassionately gave her meal to that starving individual.

Rabbi Akiva took this incident to prove that Jews can overcome “Mazal.” It also taught that acts of kindness not only save a person from an unusual death, but save the person from death itself.

The word, “Mazal” might also refer to one’s destiny. It could determine the nature of one’s children, his wealth, and length of years. But we believe that choosing a life of giving and serving Hashem sincerely, is the most effective way of making our lives far better than anything we could have imagined.