Page 3 - The Jewish Voice - July '20

The Jewish Voice, Page 3

From the rabbis

The Age-Old Questions: others have it naturally easy, as if they were blessed with the almost infinite details of our existence in total harmony and
Midas touch?
orchestrated precision could have come together by any other
Why Me? Why Now? As intellectual beings, so God created us, we naturally explanation than an equally infinite wise force — God.
wish to make sense of our lots in life. Take one look at the beautiful colors of a bird or an animal
By Rabbi Shlomo Ezagui The first response to this query is that, unfortunately, many replicating itself again and again. Where does this science
Many of us look around people do not see life through this lens and mostly use this and precise control of the atoms and molecules come from?
and wonder, “If there is a question as an excuse for personal, spiritual, and religious Take a look at a small seed placed in the earth, from which
God, a definitive force that weaknesses. They are convinced that ultimately a person is in springs a huge tree with color and fruit and seeds to replicate
is just, perfect, and wise, charge of his own destiny. Do not put God into the equation itself. Is this by chance? Impossible.
who is the cause and reason where He does not belong! Be smart, work hard, and life is Take one look at the trillion cells in one human body, each
for everything, why do so not always fair. Also, along the way, make sure you do not cell a factory unto itself that operates more precisely than a
many things appear so very get caught by the bigger fish in the pond. 120-person orchestra, in sync with every other cell of the
I am not addressing these types, who have a deep
unfair?” misunderstanding of the universe and of life. body. Is all of that by chance? Happening in 7 billion people?
your question has some very powerful basis to it. warmth, and all the vitamin D that we require to live. All
Why do so many innocent

Look at the precision of the planets and the sun. If only

a few miles north or south, the sun would destroy the earth!
people have it difficult and
As someone who appreciates the logical conclusion that
others seem to be born with
there must be a God, just take one look at the world — our
And consider the idea itself of having a sun to give us light,
a silver spoon? Why do some people who are pious struggle

On the one hand, it would be foolish to believe that the
by chance? Add all of that together and the thousands and
so much, with everything seeming to sour for them, while
thousands of other factors that we depend on during every
millisecond of our existence, all coalescing precisely. By
chance? All of it random? Senseless?

Any reasonable person must come to the conclusion there
is a God, and especially that He revealed Himself to the entire
impact more powerful. How, then, does God mess it up in my life,
Jewish nation, as recorded in the Bible.
With these thoughts in mind, the question becomes all the
or the lives of people who I know personally?

Our sages tell us the question of a wise man is already
half the answer.

Once we acknowledge our personal awareness of God,
the Creator of the universe, we can also understand He is
impossible to totally comprehend, “For my thoughts are not
during COVID-19 & economic your thoughts,” says God. “No one can see me and live.”
Over the years, our great Holy giants like the Baal Shem

Tov — whose task it is to open a small window to God’s
crisis
wisdom for us, with our small minds and narrower vision —
have shown us the cause of certain tragedies and misfortunes.
The Talmud tells us the story of the good and hospitable

widow who had her only source of livelihood, her cow, killed
by Elijah the prophet, to save her only son. Or the rooster,
donkey, and candle of Rabbi Akiva, who was treated badly
your by the inhospitable people of that city, and these objects
were lost to him at night, only to be saved from the passing
robbers.

Once we are comfortable with the qualifications of a
doctor or of any professional, we accept the limitations of
our own knowledge, not having gone to school to become a
impact
doctor ourselves, and accept the personal testimony of those
who have personal experience with the doctor even when our

The Torah tells us that God intentionally places these
incomprehensible occurrences before us. This is part of the
Together, generous people in our community own prescription is not always easy to accept or swallow.
plan! God wants us to struggle with these questions, so we
donated an astounding $1.3 million come to the conclusion that we are finite, and it is God who
during
is infinite.
COVID-19 & economic

The questions are there for us to overcome and grow in
crisis
to Jewish Federation of Palm Beach County’s wisdom and emotional strength as a result.

Rabbi Shlomo Ezagui is spiritual leader of Chabad
J-Help Coronavirus Emergency Response. House Lubavitch of Palm Beach. Contact him at
Rabbi@chabadpalmbeach.org, 624-7004, or www.
chabadpalmbeach.org.
online Jewish
check-in calls
emergency cash thousands Tens of thousands in our community are facing unemployment, Vigilante Justice
assistance for of meals emotional distress and limited access to basic human services. By Rabbi Paul Arberman
to offer mental
education

David Bleich, in his book
families struggling for frail health support, and activities Contemporary Halakhic
to afford meals, seniors and financial assistance for children Problems, writes that a
Together, generous people contributed an inspiring $1.4 million
fanatic for justice may take
medicine or rent. vulnerable people. & basic necessities. and families. justice into their own hands
to Jewish Federation of Palm Beach County’s J-Help Coronavirus if there are certain restrictions
Emergency Response to address urgent needs: in place.
If you or someone you know needs help, call 561.684.1991 First, punishment
telehealth
food &
emergency
or visit our resource page jewishpalmbeach.org/coronavirus. online education may only be given if the
financial assistance services medicine & activities perpetrator is caught in the
for families facing for those suffering for frail seniors whose for children and act. If they are fleeing the
interested in fueling our work? teens isolated scene, then they are no longer “in the act.” Second, a hatra’a
unemployment and
from grief, isolation and
caregivers are
or warning must be given before the criminal act, which tells
reduced wages
at home
emotional distress
unable to visit them
visit jewishpalmbeach.org/donate. them that what they are about to do has a specific serious
punishment. If that doesn’t already take the number of cases
If you or someone you know needs help, call 561.684.1991 or visit our resource page jewishpalmbeach.org/coronavirus
down to a minimum, the next restriction goes even further:
It is also a case that is referred to in the Talmud as:
halacha ve-ein morin ken, that is to say, while the punishment
is justified, no one may be instructed to carry it out — this
punishment may be correct but it is not taught to students.
The classic case of vigilante justice in the Torah is when
the Israelites are courting Midianite women and worshiping
their idol, Ba’al Pe’or. God is in the act of commanding
Moses to put to death all the leaders who have led the people
If you are in a position to contribute, please fuel our work by visiting jewishpalmbeach.org/donate
From the Rabbis on page 4
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