This is the first blog post of our unit on "Why Do the Righteous Suffer?". In the comments sections below, I would like you to reflect on possible takeaways from the two articles that I shared with you via email (linked again here and here).
Based on the ideas we have discussed thus far, particularly regarding Elisha ben Avuya and his loss of faith, what might a person who heard about the murders of Eyal, Gilad, and Naftali (ה' יקום דמם-May Hashem avenge their blood) and the Har Nof massacre first conclude about the very existence or nature of G-d? Before we began to study this subject, what would you yourself have thought? (I realize this is a very personal question, so if you are uncomfortable answering it then you are not required to do so.) Finally, what is one answer you might begin to give to someone who was struggling with their faith in the wake of a personal or national tragedy? This is a question that we will revisit as we learn more.
Answer the above questions in a comment below. Then respond to at least 2 classmates' comments as well. This is due before class on Wednesday, Dec. 3rd.
A great takeaway from the first article is Mordechai's grandmothers reaction to the news. She never lost faith in G-d during the tragedy at all, if anything she had more faith. I know for a fact if one of my loved ones were murdered in a shul my faith would waiver tremendously. I think she is a very strong person for the way that she handled and is still handling this situation.
ReplyDeleteThe second article is amazing as well because what Rachel imenue did is something that we can all achieve. Being jealous of someone is natural, it is a part of being human, yet she overcame that and accepted Leah after the deceitfulness of her father. We should all strive to overcome our jealousy and make peace with the ones we are jealous of.
Somebody that witnessed these terrible tragedies would most likely question the existence of G-d. They would ask the question of, How could there possibly be a G-d if all of these terrible things are happening? It is a completely normal thing to question. This question might be asked because people are always taught that God is great and wants the best for us, but if that was accurate how can such bad things happen to us.
I like that instead of saying that question," Why does G-d do bad things to good people"?, is unheard of , you recognized and explained to them it is completely normal.
DeleteIf someone heard about this horrible tragedy that happened I think it would be difficult for them to picture and think about the existence and nature of G-d. It would make a person think like, "How could there be a G-d that just puts such sad and horrifying things in the world?" So many questions would arise and it is just so much to think about. Before we began to study this subject, I myself would have trouble believing in G-d. It is so hard to imagine why He would do something like this and just how could He. It makes me question how we are supposed to look up to Him and love Him if he makes things like that in this world happen.
ReplyDeleteI would start to tell them that G-d doesn't do it on purpose. He has a vision for every person in this world and he has a whole life plan for them. If things happen, they happen for a reason, even though half of the time we don't know why or what the reason is. When you're thinking about how mad you are about a situation and if you're mad at Him for something, you just have to take a step back and know it is for the best and that G-d has a whole plan he is going by. If a person comes into a situation where they experience a tragedy it can be very difficult to believe in G-d. Especially if it is a death of a loved one, you can get very angry at G-d and not want to believe in him at all because you can't think of a reason he would want to do this to you. We aren't sure why some of the things that happen do happen, but we have to always remember there is a valid reason that only G-d knows of.
I like the answer you would give to the person who has lost a close friend or family member.
DeleteIn the first article the grandmother was very strong through the process. No matter what she stayed strong and very content. Although she was sad she did not let it affect her personally. If this was to happen to me I would definitely question and ask why. Having a loved one pass away is very hard and not make my faith get stronger.
ReplyDeleteJealousy is a huge roblem in the world. Everyone has felt it and everyone wants to be something they aren't until they realize that who they are is the best they can be. Instead of doing this appreciate others and for that matter love yourself as well.
If i were to help someone struggling with faith. I would definitly not get mad or angry at them. INstead I would figure out why they are unfaithful and draw some results from this. Then I would tell them just because something bad has happened does not mean that it is a reason to stop disbelieving. G-d tests us all in crazy ways! Let's overcome this no matter how hard and start conquering each challenge you get. No one said life is easy....
I agree with you 100% about how G-d gives us challenges but why does he give challenges that some people can't handle it at the time he gave us the challenge? Some people can't handle those hard challenges that Hashem is giving us to accomplish
DeleteI agree with you both, life isn't easy.
DeleteI think a person who heard about the murders and they don't know them they would say" ow I am so sorry for there loss" but dosent really know them so they feel bad for a for so and then move on. But if a person who know one ode the people who got killed would have more sadness about that person and would cry and be sad for maybe a week. But they would not let that make them uoset for there whole life they would probably think that the person would not want you to affect her personal life her whole like and they would want to you to move on.Knowing someone you know and hear that they have been killed you would feel upset and mad.
ReplyDeleteIf you already know that Hashem is with you and he makes all his choices for the sake of good, Then why would you question him when something bad or good happens to a good or bad person? Would you still question Hashem is he brakes one of his commandments and stop believing in him and believe in something else just because he did something that goes agains his commandments? Everyone makes mistakes and sometimes you have to brake some you own rules to save or to teach a person.
I think that if a person first heard about the attack and murder they would question G-d and wonder how G-d could let something like this happen. It is very difficult to think of how G-d is watching everything that we do and he would not protect these people. I would also think something similar, but since we began learning about this in class I know that there was obviously a reason for why this had to happen. If someone was struggling with something in their life and could not understand why G-d would be doing this to them I would tell them some of the things that we have been learning. Even though we wish that we could know everything, we cannot. G-d has a reason for everything, even when it may not seem like it or if you cannot understand why.
ReplyDeleteIn the first article I found it amazing that after a man was attacked he was still able to say, "Baruch Hashem." Even though he was nearly killed when davening to Hashem. In both articles we saw that the mothers did not act based on their painful emotions and believed in G-d which is something that we should all do.
The people probably questioned why such bad things happened to good people. Like in Har Nof, they were davening in a shul to Hashem and they were murdered in a place where you should feel and be safe at all times. They probably questioned why Hashem let those people die inside a holy place. As for the kidnapping, people were probably questioning why Hashem didn't save the three boys rather then let them die. I would have questioned why He didn't save them as well as the Har Nof incident. But if I ever had to give once answer, it would be that Hashem does everything for a reason. Even if they did die in a shul or they were kidnapped and not saved, all of the good happens in the Olam Habah, the world to come.
ReplyDelete