The word mazal is sometimes translated as “luck,” something that happens perchance. According to this interpretation, mazal tov would mean good fortune or good luck...
Interestingly, mazal is an etymological cognate of the word nozal, which means a downward flow.
This follows the Jewish belief that every person has a reservoir of spiritual energy in the higher realms that can either remain “above” in the ethereal realms as dormant potential, or descend “below” and translate into actual physical blessings in the form of children, health, wealth, or other blessings, depending on our actions and input...
Our “fate” may be decreed “above,” but our “destiny” is determined by our actions “below.”
