- Much like a loving parent occasionally needs to cause their child moments of pain, such as during a vaccination that is intended to prevent serious illness, so too 'ה will at times cause us to experience pain or suffering in order to save us from greater eventual suffering. (Based on the פסוק in תהלים that states "אשרי הגבר אשר תיסרנו י-ה", or "Fortunate is the man who is afflicted by G-d".)
- The same way that a loving parent will also rebuke or provide negative consequences for their child when that child has behaved improperly, in order to teach them right and wrong, so too 'ה will cause us to feel the negative consequences of our improper actions in order to help us learn from our mistakes. (Based on the פסוק in משלי that states "כי את אשר יאהב ה' יוכיח וכאב את בן ירצה".)
- We must recognize that a) this is one of the great mysteries of life that proves the truth of the words "הנסתרות לה' אלוקינו, והנגלות לנו ולבנינו עד עולם"-"that which is hidden is only for 'ה to understand; that which is obvious is for us and our children (aka, human beings) forever"; b) the righteous will receive their reward in the Next World, rather than This one, and c) perhaps people suffer so that others will learn from their situations (e.g., from their positive attitudes or continued devotion to 'ה). (Based on the ספר חובות הלבבות.)
- A person cannot experience a perfect (defined as suffering-free) life in This World and in the Next World; at some point in their existence they will have to face the consequences of their negative actions. No one is perfect and entirely free of sin; however, it is far better to experience suffering as a consequence of sinful behavior in This World than in the Next, as This World is limited and finite, whereas the Next World is unlimited and infinite in every way. The reverse is also true--we would much rather experience reward in the Next World than in This. (Based on the מהר"ל.)
- If the world would function in a black-and-white way, in which there were immediate, on the spot consequences for our actions (whether good or bad), there would be no possibility of free will, or of acting purely "לשם שמים"-for the sake of Heaven, for the sake of doing the right thing. We would only be motivated to act out of a) fear of punishment, or b) desire for reward. 'ה wants us to be able to choose freely to act the right way because it is right. Therefore, This World must function in such a way that there appears to be no connection whatsoever between our actions and what happens to us--thus, we often see righteous people live difficult, painful lives and evil people prosper and thrive. (Based on the מלבי"ם.)
- Finally, we spoke about the idea that suffering is always an opportunity to come closer to G-d and to reach our fullest potential to achieve greatness in this life, if only we are able to learn from it and view it as something beneficial. Additionally, if we understand that This World is like a "פרוזדור", a corridor, that leads us to the "טרקלין", or banquet hall that is the Next World, and we are passionately motivated to do our absolute best in this life in order to merit the eternity of the next--then we will determinedly push on through the challenges that face us, the moments of darkness, the obstacles that stand in our way, and the twists and turns that threaten to make us lose our way. (Based on מכתב מאליהו.)
By FRIDAY, Dec. 12, please find an online source (article, blog post, video) that either discusses yet another approach to the question of צדיק ורע לו, OR elaborates on one of these approaches. In the comments section below, write a 1-2 paragraph summary of what you learned from that source, and be sure to include a link. Then, reply to a classmate's comment with a question or thought based on what they wrote.
http://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/622117/jewish/Why-Do-Bad-Things-Happen-to-Good-People.htm
ReplyDeleteWhy do good people suffer? This question is not bad to ask or unusual at all. No matter what or how good people suffer it happens to all of us, From the smallest of bad things to huge truamatizing situations. The reason for this may be many things. in order to make us a better person, teach others, and show others motivation and devotion.Maybe Hashem is saving us from eventually suffering.
The point is suffering does not need to be looked upon as a bad. Instead we should realize it is not intentionally to harm, but maybe rather to help us. The mystery of this question has many theories. Instead of wandering why lets except it and continue to be the best person we can be no matter what. Suffering is not always a bad thing because maybe in the long run it is in our benefit.
I think it is really nice how you summed this up. I like how you look on the brighter side and really be positive. Even though we are suffering and upset about a moment, we shouldn't dwell on it. We should always look on the brighter side and make a moment as positive as it can be.
Deletehttp://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/622117/jewish/Why-Do-Bad-Things-Happen-to-Good-People.htm
ReplyDeleteThis source explains that we should stop looking for the answer to this question. If we knew why good people suffered, we wouldn't feel empathy for them anymore. It gives the example of a woman screaming in agony in a hospital while he family is all happy and smiling outside. Someone comes to the family and says, 'why are you happy? Can't you hear her screaming?" To that, the family replies, "We are smiling because she is having a baby!" Another scenario we could use is, imagine someone is getting bullied in school, we naturally feel sympathy for the victim. However, if someone pointed to the victim and said, "He is becoming stronger from this bully. This bully will shape him into a good person by showing him the type of person that he doesn't want to be." We would probably see it as a good thing and not help him. Or what if, G-d forbid, someone loses a child. What if someone came to the parent and said, "He was going to go grow up to be a horrible person, possibly even a dangerous person." That wouldn't make the parent feel better through their suffering, in fact it would probably make it worse. But we would think, "he would've made the world worse, so it's good he's gone." Without suffering, there is no sympathy or empathy. And without sympathy and empathy, there is no basic human goodness in the world.
I love your last two lines and I agree a lot with them. Without empathy and sympathy this world would be selfish and insensitive.
Deletehttp://www.myjewishlearning.com/beliefs/Theology/Suffering_and_Evil/Responses/Modern_Solutions/When_Bad_Things_Happen.shtml
ReplyDeleteI learned from this link some similar things to what I learned in class. In the article it says the person believes in G-d but doesn't as she did before. The person realized she can believe in a G-d that hates suffering but cant eliminate it fully. The painful things that happen to us aren't consequences for our misbehavior or trying to just get back at us for something. We can look at G-d and thank him for helping us overcome what we had to go through and we know He will be there for us.
http://www.myjewishlearning.com/beliefs/Theology/Suffering_and_Evil/Responses/Modern_Solutions/When_Bad_Things_Happen.shtml
ReplyDeleteWhen Bad Things Happen to Good People? Many people ask this but G-d does not want us to have pain in our lives. G-d does not cause our misfortune. Only we, bad people and our human body being mortal, and living in a world with inflexible law. We should not blame G-d for our mistakes that we have done wrong and blame him for punishing us so we would not do it again. Even if you are a great person in this world G-d does not want you to suffer in Olam Haba because he does not want us to suffer for the rest of our eternal lives. G-d does everything for a reason that no one will understand why except for him. We should take what G-d is giving us so we can become better people and we can have happiness in Olam Haba.
The bad things that happen to us is not punishment but its a road for so so we can becoming better people then what we are now. When bad things happen to us it doesn't mean that G-d is mad or doesn't like us, its just him showing us that we have done something bad and we didn't realize it.
We should be glad that G-d is pointing the bad things that we are doing because when we go to Olam Haba we won't have suffering forever and it won't ever change. We will happiness and be happy.
http://www.aish.com/sp/ph/When_Bad_Things_Happen.html
ReplyDeleteThis article lists reason of why bad things happen to good people and gives several explanations and analogies to teach people that Hashem doesn't do it for no reason. The article explains that Hashem has a reason for everything and how He is kind and how He runs the world. Without the suffering we wouldn't have any expectations and no one would question suffering. Hashem is responsible for everything that occurs in this world. Everything G-d does is a gift from Him. There is no such thing as "fair." If life has meaning then pain also . There is also the afterlife. The article explains that Hashem only puts us through suffering because he is adjusting our choice of free will.