Inexplicable Justice

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.'

Purposeful, But Despised

From the wisdom of the Lubavitcher Rebbe, of righteous memory; words and condensation by Rabbi Tzvi Freeman. Subscribe and get your dose daily. To order Rabbi Freeman’s latest book, Wisdom to Heal the Earth, click here.

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Eugina Giovanna Herrera New York City, New York July 5, 2019

To stop these obstacles G-d wisdom after Genesis corruption have told since the beginning ("By their fruits you will know them") So, In other words, It can be explained in reasons, to why there is (so much) secrets of his wisdom, In the last days of our planet (Earth) we must endure his ways of his commandments with his fruits of wisdom. Reply

Eugina Giovanna Herrera New York City, New York July 5, 2019

There is always a why To stop these obstacles of any such nature whether is punishment, suffering, torment from any sins we have committed we must know how to use His (Wisdom so Wisely), In other words, there is always a why to any in our life questioning what is and what is not, G-d wisdom is not to question of his authority, To question our authority how we must always live everyday with his light he gave to us, G-d is very powerful and have many plans for us all to live and heal without any sufferings.

Thank you for pointing this out Reply

Adele Mischel Boston November 20, 2018

Thank you, Rabbi. The experience of suffering is really the question of what it means to have complete faith in a loving G-d., and to be silent in awe is a reflection of that faith. Reply

Dr. Harry Hamburger Miami April 10, 2013

Rabbi Akiva and the Crowns of the Torah Moses saw G-d putting crowns above some of the letters of the Torah. He was told that Rabbi Akiva i the distant future would teach the reason why. He suggested to G-d that the Torah should therefore be given to Akiva instead of himself, and he was told to be quiet, as the reason was in G-d's mind. For a deeper explanation a poem:

Make fence for your words
and like Moses hide face
do not explore deep mysteries
and wander in vacant space

To repair the broken vessels
and again contain the Light
you must fill them gradually
and keep evil from sight

Know there are many crowns
that are afixed to head
are transcendent perception of Torah
from which Rabbi Akiva fed

For now must be quiet
as has arisen in thought
doubts and problems will disappear
and find answers you sought Reply

Ros England April 9, 2013

Inexplicable justice I think this a very deep article-and so right!How can we ever hope to see things the way thar G-d sees them-to us it may seem unfair or cruel or whatever,but in time,and sometimes,only in looking back can we see the reason behind the suffering-we are being tested in the furnace and all life is a test.Our reasoning and comprehension can never compare to G-d's and we must "stand fast" and trust that "all will be well" Surely that is what faith is? Reply

Rabbi Tzvi Freeman 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. Reply

Chaim Vogel Montreal January 31, 2019

in response to Rabbi Tzvi Freeman:

this must be another meditation :) Reply

Barry Leshowitz Scottsdale, AZ 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. Reply

Syed Shahid Ali Karachi, Pakistan 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. Reply

Anonymous 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! Reply

Jerry Naroden Hillsborough, NJ 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. Reply

Dr. Harry Hamburger Miami, Fl 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". Reply

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