Question

Hello Rabbi,
I wanted to ask a question about faith / belief,
I went through this question here on the site, which is also mentioned in the book The First Existent. There you referred to a number of sources, and unfortunately it seems you completely missed the facts and did not address this question sufficiently (it was “locked” as column 247).
Let’s start with the facts:
Regarding Fatima:
13.5.1917 – First apparition: “Our Lady of the Rosary” appears to the three shepherd children and asks them to return every month until October.
13.6.1917 – Second apparition: emphasis on saying the rosary and on the “Immaculate Heart of Mary.”
13.7.1917 – Third apparition: a promise that a miracle will occur in October; the tradition of the “Three Secrets of Fatima” is born.
19.8.1917 – Fourth apparition (at Valinhos): postponed from August 13; the call to prayer and repentance continues.
13.9.1917 – Fifth apparition: a larger gathering of believers around the site.
13.10.1917 – The sixth apparition and the “Miracle of the Sun”: at the end of the apparition, a crowd estimated at about 70,000 describes the sun as “dancing/moving” and radiating colors; many report that their wet clothes and the wet ground dried. The event entered popular tradition as a miracle openly witnessed by the crowd.
Since then, it has been customary to mark the memory of Fatima every year on May 13.
Regarding Zeitoun:
2.4.1968 – First apparition: a luminous figure of Mary is seen on the roof of Saint Mary’s Church; it is initially identified by Muslim passersby, and curious onlookers gather around the place.
9.4.1968 – Second apparition: from this point on, the reports become frequent. According to the popular tradition, in the months that followed she appeared at times as often as 2–3 times a week, sometimes for hours.
May 1968 – Coptic Church approval: the Coptic Patriarch Cyril VI sets up a committee; statements from the Patriarchate imply that the apparitions “continued for many nights” and were approved as credible.
1968–1971 – A multi-year sequence of apparitions: the figure is described as dressed in white, moving over the domes, kneeling before the cross; at times “doves of light,” flashes, and the smell of incense appear; there are no verbal messages — “silence that speaks.” The crowds were enormous (popular tradition speaks of masses and even hundreds of thousands on peak nights).
End of 1971 – Fading out: the apparitions cease; the popular memory remains of a broad public miracle that lasted over several years, not a one-night event.
 
And now the question,
if Judaism is justified because of a reliable collective tradition, and given that Christianity also has collective traditions of public events with many witnesses, contemporary documentation, and Church recognition (for example: Fatima 1917; Zeitoun 1968–1971), shouldn’t one be required to grant the Christian traditions the same degree of trust as well — unless a relevant epistemic distinction is presented that explains why the Jewish case is stronger than they are? If there is no such distinction, why do you accept the Jewish tradition and reject the Christian one?
Sub-questions for clarification:
What is the distinguishing criterion by virtue of which the Jewish tradition passes the threshold of trust, while the Christian traditions do not?
If the criterion is “God spoke with the whole people” (as opposed to apparitions/miracles to groups), why is that an epistemic difference — meaning one that raises the probability of truth — and not merely a descriptive difference defined ad hoc so that only Sinai will fit it?
If the criterion is “an unbroken national chain of transmission,” how does that deal both with biblical criticism (which suggests source traditions and later editing) and with modern many-witness events that have real-time documentation and institutional recognition (such as Fatima and Zeitoun)?
And if you argue that they only saw some kind of light but that this says nothing theologically,
that is a very problematic claim, because in Zeitoun we are dealing with a Coptic church dedicated to Mary for decades before the events (it was inaugurated in 1925). The appearance of light phenomena דווקא there fits a prior religious expectation — and not in just some random place. The builders of the church attributed its establishment to earlier visionary inspiration, and there is even a tradition of a “blessing after about 50 years” — and indeed the events begin in 1968 (about 50 years after the dream described from 1918). When there is a match to a scenario claimed in advance, even “just lights” get greater statistical weight than a coincidence. (And likewise regarding Fatima).

I used CHATGPT and GROK to examine the reliability of the data. I also asked it to examine all known events in human history with more than 500 witnesses, and it gave me the following results:

Miracles in human history since 3000 BCE — with mass testimony (more than 500 witnesses according to tradition)
1. Miracles in ancient Middle Eastern and Egyptian cultures (ca. 3000–500 BCE)
According to ancient Egyptian legends (written on papyri and stelae, such as the Edwin Smith Papyrus), Imhotep, a priest and architect, was considered a god of healing who performed mass healing miracles in temples, including recovery of the seriously ill.
The turning of water into blood and the Ten Plagues in Egypt (ca. 1250 BCE): all the people of Egypt and the Israelites saw the plagues (blood, frogs, locusts, darkness, etc.); biblical tradition counts millions as witnesses. (Book of Exodus).
The splitting of the Red Sea (ca. 1250 BCE): all the Israelites (more than 600,000 men plus families = millions) saw the sea split; a divine miracle. (Exodus 14).
2. Miracles in the Hebrew Bible (Tanakh) (Judaism, ca. 2000–100 BCE)
The revelation at Mount Sinai (ca. 1250 BCE): all the people of Israel (millions) saw God descend on the mountain, thunder, lightning, and give the Torah. (Exodus 19–20).
The manna from heaven (ca. 1250 BCE): food fell daily from heaven for all the Israelites in the wilderness (millions). (Exodus 16).
The conquest of Jericho (ca. 1200 BCE): the walls fell from the sound of trumpets before Joshua’s army (thousands). (Joshua 6).
The sun standing still (ca. 1200 BCE): Joshua stopped the sun before the army and the people (thousands). (Joshua 10).
Elijah calling down fire from heaven (ca. 850 BCE): fire came down before all Israel, 450 prophets of Baal, and 400 prophets of Asherah (thousands). (I Kings 18).
The bronze serpent heals (ca. 1250 BCE): a serpent on a pole healed thousands of snakebite victims before the whole people. (Numbers 21).
3. Miracles in ancient Asian cultures (India, China, ca. 2500–500 BCE)
According to Maya legends (documented in codices such as the Dresden Codex), priests in the temple at Chichen Itza foresaw cosmic events (such as solar eclipses) by means of crystal skulls, which were considered supernatural. The public saw the prophecies come true.
Krishna lifts Mount Govardhan (ca. 1500 BCE, Hinduism): Krishna lifted a mountain to protect all the residents of Vrindavan from rain (thousands). (Bhagavata Purana).
Rama crosses the sea (ca. 1000 BCE, Hinduism): a bridge was built by an army of monkeys in front of an army (thousands). (Ramayana).
The Twin Miracle of Buddha (ca. 500 BCE, Buddhism): Buddha created duplicates, fire, and water before a large audience in Sravasti (thousands, including monks and gods). (Tipitaka).
The 15 days of Buddha’s miracles (ca. 500 BCE): Buddha displayed supernatural powers for 15 days, changing thousands of minds before a crowd. (Buddhist tradition).
4. Miracles in Greco-Roman mythology and India (ca. 1000 BCE – 500 CE)
Vespasian heals a blind man and a cripple (70 CE): the emperor healed before a crowd in Alexandria (thousands). (Tacitus, Histories).
The healing miracles of Apollonius of Tyana (Asia, India) (100) — according to the writings of Philostratus (Life of Apollonius), Apollonius, a Neo-Pythagorean philosopher and mystic, performed healing miracles and predictions in India, including healing the sick and “influencing nature” before large crowds.
5. Miracles in Christianity (1st century CE onward)
The feeding of the 5,000 (1st century): Jesus multiplied bread and fish for 5,000 men plus women/children (thousands). (Matthew 14).
Jesus appears to 500 after the resurrection (1st century): Jesus appeared to 500+ brethren at once. (1 Corinthians 15:6).
Saints rise from the dead in Jerusalem (1st century): dead people rose and appeared to many (thousands). (Matthew 27:52–53).
6. Miracles in Islam (7th century CE onward)
The splitting of the moon (7th century): Muhammad split the moon before the people of Mecca (thousands, including Quraysh). (Qur’an 54:1–2; Hadith).
Water flowing from the fingers (7th century): water flowed from Muhammad’s fingers before an army (thousands). (Hadith in Bukhari).
7. Miracles in the Middle Ages and modern period (500–2025 CE)
The miracle of the Holy Fire in Jerusalem (annually since the 4th century, including 500–1890): fire descends from heaven in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre before thousands of believers every year; Christian tradition accepts this as a miracle. (Writings of the Church Fathers and Orthodox tradition).
The miracle of Lanciano (750, Italy): bread and wine turn into flesh and blood during Mass before a congregation (hundreds to thousands). (Church tradition).
The miracle of Bolsena (1263, Italy): a host bleeds during Mass before a priest and congregation (thousands). (Eucharistic tradition).
The blood miracle of San Gennaro (annual since 1389, Naples): blood liquefies before thousands of believers every year. (Catholic tradition).
The apparition of the Virgin Mary to Juan Diego (1531), including the miracle of roses and an image on a tilma that was shown to the bishop and the crowd. It led to mass conversions of natives.
The levitations of Joseph of Cupertino (1603–1663, Italy): levitation before crowds, including the pope and the court (thousands). (Church records).
The spring of Lourdes (1858, France): Bernadette Soubirous digs and a healing spring begins to flow before a growing crowd; healings were observed by thousands. (Catholic tradition, thousands to millions over time).
The miracles of Shirdi Sai Baba (1858–1890, India): creating food, stopping rain, and healings before thousands of devotees (Hinduism/Sufism). (Biographies and tradition).
The water miracle of Puspatina (Asia, Nepal) (1858) — during a Hindu festival at Pashupatinath Temple, a holy spring was reportedly suddenly revealed and healed illnesses, as observed by pilgrims. The event was documented as a “Hindu miracle.”
The blood miracle of San Gennaro (annual since 1800 until today, Naples, Italy): blood liquefies before thousands of believers every year. (Catholic tradition, thousands). (Already cited above; see San Gennaro miracle).
The Holy Fire miracle (annual since 1800 until today, Jerusalem): fire descends from heaven in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre before thousands of believers. (Orthodox tradition, thousands). (Already cited above; see Holy Fire miracle).
The Miracle of the Sun at Fatima (1917, Portugal): the sun “dances” before 70,000 people. (Catholic tradition, 70,000).
The Weeping Madonna of Syracuse (1953, Italy): a Madonna statue weeps tears for days, observed by thousands who came to see. (Catholic tradition, thousands).
Our Lady of Zeitoun (1968–1971, Egypt): an apparition of Mary over a church, seen by millions (up to 250,000 in one night). (Coptic tradition, millions).
A weeping statue in Akita (1973–1981, Japan): a statue of Mary weeps 101 times, observed by thousands who visited. (Catholic tradition, thousands).
The sun dances in Medjugorje (1981–today, Bosnia and Herzegovina): sun phenomena similar to Fatima, seen by thousands of pilgrims. (Catholic tradition, thousands).
Kibeho, Rwanda (1981–1989) — apparitions of Mary
The healing miracles of Reinhard Bonnke (Africa, Nigeria, South Africa, Ghana) (1974) — evangelistic campaigns with reports of mass healings (blind people, paralyzed people, resurrections). Example: a campaign in Lagos (2000) with a gigantic crowd. Estimated number of witnesses: 1.6 million at one event; hundreds of thousands in other campaigns.
Our Lady of Assiut (2000–2001, Egypt): lights and a figure of Mary seen above a church before thousands. (Coptic tradition, thousands).
Our Lady of Warraq (2009, Egypt): Mary appears above a church before 3,000 people. (Coptic tradition, 3,000).
A Eucharistic miracle in Vilakkannur (Asia, India) — a figure of Jesus appeared on the consecrated bread during Mass in a church in India, observed by a large congregation and leading thousands to arrive later. Estimated number of witnesses: more than 500 (the congregation in the church, thousands afterward).
The Miracle of the Sun in Medan (Asia, Indonesia) (2015): during a mass Christian-Catholic prayer gathering, the sun was seen “dancing” and forming cross shapes, as reported by a large crowd, including non-Christians. Estimated number of witnesses: more than 10,000 (the prayer gathering
The milk miracle of Ganesha (1995, India and worldwide): statues of Ganesha drink milk before millions. (Hindu tradition, millions).

It is interesting to note that there are lots of Christian miracles in which people saw Mary or something like that, and the great majority of them are from the last hundred years in many places around the world, as you can see.