In the Dark of the Storm

The amazing result of disasters is the way they bring about genuine, lasting good in their wake. The State of Israel itself, a dream that came true, never stood a chance after centuries of hope. Only out of the ashes of WWII and the persecution of Jews by Nazi Germany, did Israel finally arise. Natural disasers cannot be explained. Ask all the nice guys who perished at the time of Noah. Why was HE CHOSEN...HE COULDN'T HAVE BEEN THE ONLY "HONEST, DECENT" GUY ON THE BLOCK! The fact is, it's useless blather to question WHY about natural disasters. Why did it hafta rain/snow/hail/flood/tsami/windstorm/etc/etc on YOUR ___day? "Ha-ha-ha" (G-d is laughing at our impudence!)

We must be wakened from our sleep. Sometimes a whisper will do it. Sometimes a gentle tap on the shoulder or a kiss on the forehead is enough. Sometimes a loud shout will do it. Sometimes the foundations must be shaken to the core. Awaken.

Isn't the belief that everything that happens around us has a higher reason one of the most central tenets of Judaism? How then do we hear that disasters like hurricane Sandy have no purpose whatsoever? Does not Tanakh tell us that Hashem “He makes the winds His messengers, fiery flames His servants.” (Ps. 104:4) Flip-flopping theology is easy to produce. However, it satisfy no one, - just as the author of the article intimated! In my humble opinion, every time an american administration backstabs israel, the Holy Gracious One sends them a reminder of His Covenant relationship with israel! Sandy was just such a reminder! Keep on searching for answers, Israel! be blessed!

When a disaster strikes and people die, innocent people, children we are to presume it is G-d doing this so the rest of us will show chesed? Tikun Olam?
I am sorry, but a very simplified and childish assumption. We must never stop questioning, looking for an answer but I can not and will not beleive that G-d kills innocent people to get us to "wake up" and behave according to his will? Are you kidding me?????
So children, who die from Cancer and suffer from starvation and are beaten and abused..... you want to tell me this is G-d's work too?
If I beleived this I would be an athesit!
It is a "chilul HaShem" to try an give a rationale for such tragedies.

Dear Rabbi Friedman:

This was an unusually powerful video!!! G-d has blessed you with a very special talent--to inspire people. May G-d grant you many more opportunities to do so !!!
May G-d help US to BECOME inspired, and to ACT on this inspiration -- to do more good, and to reveal HIS PRESENCE in this world. Sincerely,

Iyov (Job) as an Ish tam that means he was perfect, he was complete, and we know that G-d never said Iyuv deserves punishment all we know is the Satan came over to G-d and said look how good Iyuv's life is he has children and money if you take all that away, G-d, then Iyuv will know longer believe in you.

So G-d let the satan take away all of Iyuv's money, children and even his health.

G-d did not do this for a reason he did it as a test to see how would Iyov react! Will Iyov ask why or will he ask what should I do now. What action does G-d want me to take!

We also know that Avraham was sent ten test, Avraham did nothing wrong but G-d sent hardships to see how would avraham react! Avraham never said why he said what!

We as people have cannot even fathom the complex workings of G-d but we can try to learn lessons from daily occurances and say what should I do because I just stubbed my toe or gave my boss the wrong file

This is really nice and inspiring. You should publicize it.

What a wonderful presentation of such a complex subject. The message was delivered magnificently. Thank you.

With all my due respect, I would like to state my views. If I misunderstood the message, I apologize in advance.

I do not want to menospretiate the message in the presentation, but in some way I perceived it as simplistic and incomplete.

Everything has a cause, and usually WE are that cause, including hurricanes, suffering and death.

It's about assuming responsibility. God created a perfect Universe with perfect laws. If something went wrong in our lives or our planet, we must understand that some law was bended or ignored, and it has consequences ( NOT PUNISHMENT !!! ).

In the case of the presentation, the consequence was a Hurricane, but the cause were us. In one way or other, we created the devastation, the flooding, the desolation.

We must assume responsibility, and the best we can do is ask to God why, and we must be ready to listen, because the answer is right there, waiting for us. We must be ready to understand, so we can avoid disasters to happen again and again. The problem is that we do not listen, we are arrogants and egocentrics, and that's why we are century after century plunged in wars, hunger, diseases and poverty. And I will repeat myself a thousand times: We must assume responsibility, we are the architects, designers and engineers of our present, past and future. Everything that happens to us was created by us, EVERYTHING !!!.

On the other hand, if our lives are filled with joy and blessings, it is because we understood and follow them ( Universe Rules )

To just sit down and say "It's God's will" will never make us better. I know in fact that there is a God inside of me, and something he never stops telling me is: "Don't be a follower, go and find the answers, you are meant to understand everything that happens inside and out". Make the questions, with the purpose of spiritual growth, and you will get the answers... WE ARE MEANT TO UNDERSTAND, not just to accept.

Love, Peace and Sharing is the answer... truth will follow.

Thank You. EVERYTHING has a purpose and YES G-D is in EVERYTHING and EVERYWHERE. Though we cant actually be like G-D, we can try to emulate HIM.