In the 1950s and 1960s, America and Russia raced to see who would be first to send a person into space. Russia seemed to win, but in truth, Russia lost. They did not only lose, but they lost by thousands of years! The first person in space was Avraham Avinu. In Bereshis 15:5, it states that G-d took Avram outside. Rashi comments G-d did not only take Avram outside but brought him above the stars. Therefore, Avram was really the first astronaut! The reason G-d did this was because Avram could understand astrology (unlike the old lady in the corner shop) and saw he was not destined to have any children. G-d responded Avram, and all Jews, are above the stars and literally showed him this. There is nothing predetermined for the Jews because we can change our fate by the performance of one mitzvah.

The Gemara on Shabbos 156b tells a story about Rabi Akiva’s daughter. When his daughter was born, stargazers stated she would die on the day of her wedding. Years went by and finally, a brave man decided he would take his chances and marry her. On the night before the wedding, Rabi Akiva’s house was full of excitement as they were making final preparations for the next day’s event. Rabi Akiva’s daughter was told to eat a meal in the kitchen and then go to bed. While she was eating alone, a poor beggar appeared at the kitchen door asking for some food, as he had not eaten in days. Rabi Akiva’s daughter was the only one that noticed him and gave her entire meal to him. That night, when it was dark, Rabi Akiva’s daughter took out her hair pin and stuck it in the wall (as was the custom in those days). In the morning, when there was light, Rabi Akiva’s daughter let out a huge scream because a poisonous snake was in her room. The snake, though, was dead, because when she put her hair pin in the wall, it struck the snake. Rabi Akiva asked if anything had happened the night before and she told him about the beggar. Rabi Akiva then said he understood the verse in Mishlei (Proverbs) that states doing charity could save a person death. She was predetermined to die, but she changed her fate because of her act of kindness.

Rav Matisyahu Salomon quotes his rebbe, Rav Elya Lopian, on an amazing insight into this story. Jews are subject to predetermined events like everyone else; that is why the snake had come to kill Rabi Akiva’s daughter. But we have one difference from the other nations of the world: when the misfortune comes, G-d gives us an opportunity to perform a mitzvah to save ourselves. The poor beggar came at that exact moment because it was at that exact moment Rabi Akiva’s daughter needed to perform the mitzvah of a kind deed. Rav Lopian concludes when a mitzvah comes a person’s way, he should speedily perform it, because this might be the mitzvah that saves the person from a terrible event about to happen.

The bad news is even Jews have misfortunes that have been predetermined for them. The good news is we are above the stars and can change what has been predestined. G-d always gives us an opportunity to perform an act of kindness or a great mitzvah before He sends suffering upon us. If we jump upon every opportunity we are given, we can change our future!

Good Shabbos!
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