Inexplicable Justice - Daily Dose of Wisdom

Not all suffering can be explained. There is pain, sometimes, that is not punishment and not repair.

True, we were given Torah, a G-dly wisdom containing the secrets of all things. But concerning these things even Moses asked and was told to be quiet, to cease to ask. Because there are some things that even G-dly wisdom does not explain. Because they cannot be explained.

We can only know that whatever happens is from G-d, that G-d is just, and that He does not desire suffering.

But until the end of days, we will have to suffer the 'why.'

Based on letters and talks of the Rebbe, Rabbi M. M. Schneerson

From the wisdom of the Lubavitcher Rebbe, of righteous memory; words and condensation by Rabbi Tzvi Freeman. To order Rabbi Freeman’s book, Bringing Heaven Down to Earth, click here.

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May 11, 2010

Perhaps...

Many of us believe we will have an opportunity after our stint on earth to stand before a great mahogany desk in the sky and demand from G-d, "If you are so kind and omniscient, why were You silent!" And then G-d will show us the view as He sees things and all will be answered.

Perhaps. Perhaps not. Perhaps at the end of all things, at the core of all wisdom, at the very essence of all being lies not an answer but a question, perhaps many questions--and who knows, perhaps this question is one of them. And if so, perhaps G-d will simply counter our question with yet another and ask, "So what did you do to answer this question?"

And if we will say, "I did nothing, because I saw you did nothing," then He will ask yet another question. He will say, "So was this that you asked a question, or was it just another answer?"

For that is the only question that is not a good question: the one that is not a question at all, but merely an excuse to shrug our shoulders and scurry back in our hole.

Rabbi Tzvi Freeman

May 11, 2010

I disagree--one should always ask "why"

Rabbi,
Our tradition teaches us that Moses spoke directly to G-d and was informed there are times when he should not ask G-d "why?" That may be good advice to Moses, but for the rest of us, it is not. How can mortals ever know what is G-d's will? Should we dutifully accept what occurs to us in life? Or should we question everything. If there is a singular characteristic of Jews, it is that we are impelled to question. The alternative to asking "why" is simply not acceptable--and I suggest, G-d would agree.

Barry Leshowitz
Scottsdale, AZ

May 11, 2010

Beautiful!

"But concerning these things even Moses asked and was told to be quiet, to cease to ask."

This is simply a beautiful explanation, in particular, explaining the unexplained.

Thanks for the such an immense wisdom!

Regards.

Syed Shahid Ali
Karachi, Pakistan

May 11, 2010

Another article clip to save and share. . .

I was talking to a Hospice client about this. We were talking about how unjust things seem and she asked me if I thought we'd know why once we got to that Other Side. I said that I hoped so and she said, "I think the great question to ask is if it will matter to us then. For here and now all we can do is play the game by the rules and in the roles we know."

It was easy for her, knowing that she was leaving the world soon, and it is hard to take such a high road on things when well, we are here and have to live with them!

Thank you for more food for thought, Rabbi!

Anonymous

May 11, 2010

Inexplicable Justice

Suffering is to pull us closer to G-d. "He does not desire suffering" as I do not desire to punish my children but sometimes this needs to be done for their own good and the same holds true between G-d and humans Thus sickness, natural and seemingly man made problems will continue to occur until we do our part correctly as "Light unto the nations." One way or another G-d will be revealed prior to the year 6,000. We can bring about this revelation the hard way or the easy way and may it be sooner in our days.

Jerry Naroden
Hillsborough, NJ

May 11, 2010

Not why, but what?

Dear Rabbi and friend, on this commentary I must disagree. It is not our place to ever ask G-d why we or others suffer. For this is idol worship of the self, and presumes that we know better what is good or bad. Job made the same mistake as a righteous man to ask G-d why he suffered. RATHER, we should ask what is the message that is being sent to us by this suffering. The suffering has a good and righteous reason, and we should never question G-d as to why it was sent, but instead draw close to Him so that understand what he wants us to do. In conclusion this is not a why, but a what (he wants us to do) "event".

Dr. Harry Hamburger
Miami, Fl