"וכל מאמינים שהוא חי וקים הטוב ומטיב לרעים ולטובים"
“All believe that He lives and is eternal, He is good and does good to the wicked and to the good.”

QUESTION: How does His doing good to the wicked prove that he is eternal?

ANSWER: A king of flesh and blood who is eventually going to die rushes to take vengeance during his lifetime, for either he or his enemy against whom he wishes to take vengeance might die, and he would miss the chance to be avenged. Since Hashem lives forever He does not have to rush to take His due, because He can collect whenever He wants, even after the person’s death, if necessary (see Devarim 32:40, Rashi).

Hashem does not desire that the wicked perish, but rather that they repent and live. Thus, since He patiently does good even to the wicked though they do not deserve it and does not rush to take His vengeance, it proves that he is eternal.

(ברוך שאמר)


QUESTION: The word “latovim” — “to the good” — is superfluous; if He does good to the wicked, He surely does good to the good?

ANSWER: Some people are aware that they were wicked during the year and resolve on Rosh Hashanah to repent and change their ways in the future. There are, however, others who don’t even realize their wickedness and think that they are good and what they are doing is good.

Hashem has mercy on every Jew. He is good and does good not only “lara’im” — to the wicked — who are cognizant of their past and resolved to improve, but also “latovim” — to those [who in their own eyes] are good — and who seemingly have no need to change or improve.

(פון אונזער אלטן אוצר בשם ר' צבי הירש זצ"ל מזידיטשויב)