WORKSHOP
(1) What Hebrew term describes the ancient question of "why bad things happen to good people"? What are the two elements described by this phrase?
(2) What is the most fundamental question on the subject of suffering as posited by Rabbi Blech?
(3) Outline the three fundamental beliefs that Kushner says must be considered in order to address the issue of why bad things happen to good people.
(4) What conclusions did Job's friends come to about his character when they saw his life filled with suffering?
(5) How does the Talmud refute the assumptions that Job's friends made?
(6) How does Rabbi Blech refute those who reject the notion that people who suffer must really be bad people? And what do Job's experiences teach us about the nature of suffering?
ANSWERS
(1) Q: What Hebrew term describes the ancient question of "why bad things happen to good people"? What are the two elements described by this phrase?
A: "Tzaddik v'ra lo, Rasha v'tov lo." This phrase contains two elements:
- The person who is righteous and life goes badly for him
- The person who is wicked and life goes well for him.
(2) Q: What is the most fundamental question on the subject of suffering as posited by Rabbi Blech?
A: The most fundamental question is: If someone is good, how can a 'good' God cause him to suffer?
(3) Q: Outline the three fundamental beliefs that Kushner says must be considered in order to address the issue of why bad things happen to good people.
A: The three fundamental beliefs outlined by Kushner are:
- God is Omnipotent – He is the supreme power and He can do anything and everything.
- God is good – the 13 attributes of mercy define God as a good, just, compassionate, kind and merciful God.
- Good people suffer – this is a fact rather than a belief, a reality that we see around us.
(4) Q: What conclusions did Job's friends come to about his character when they saw his life filled with suffering?
A: Job's friends assume that Job's suffering is a result of his sins. They believe that only bad people suffer and therefore, Job must be bad.
(5) Q: How does the Talmud refute the assumptions that Job's friends made?
A: The Talmud tells us that Job's friends were wrong. Before suffering was brought upon him, Job was considered to be a perfect tzaddik. Satan could not accept his righteousness and challenged God saying, "Job acts like a tzaddik simply because everything is going well for him. Let us see how righteous he is if life becomes difficult for him." God tested Job through many hardships and trials. Not only did Job endure suffering, he became ennobled through it, reaching higher levels of piety and faith.
(6) Q: How does Rabbi Blech refute those who reject the notion that people who suffer must really be bad people? And what do Job's experiences teach us about the nature of suffering?
A: We see that Job did not suffer because of any wrongdoings he had performed. Despite his goodness, he had to endure suffering. We see that in Job's case, his suffering was nothing more than a test, and his ability to bear these challenges made him into an even greater tzaddik. It is a classic example of 'tzaddik v'ra lo.'
SUMMARY
"Why bad things happen to good people" is a fundamental question that has been asked since ancient times. The issue can be viewed on both an individual and a national level. In Judaism this issue is represented by a Hebrew term describing two elements to the equation: "tzaddik v'ra lo, rasha v'tov lo" – the good person for whom life goes badly, and the wicked person for whom life goes seemingly smoothly. Rabbi Blech chooses to focus on the second element: If someone is good, how can a good God cause him to suffer?
Rabbi Blech highlights a flaw in Kushner's book, When Bad Things Happen to Good People. The book fails to address the question of why bad things happen to good people. In seeking to address the why of suffering, Rabbi Blech takes the structure of this book to illustrate his arguments. The book raises three apparently contradictory tenets of faith. These 3 elements form the basis of Rabbi Blech's discussion:
- God is Omnipotent – He is the supreme power and He can do anything and everything.
- God is Good – the 13 attributes of mercy define God as good, just compassionate, and kind.
- Good people suffer – this is a fact rather than a belief, a reality that we see around us.
Good people suffer. Some people deal with the subject of suffering by refuting this belief, saying that if a person is suffering, he must be bad. We see such a reaction in the story of Job. When Job's life turns sour, his friends say to him, "If you are suffering, it must be a result of your sins! It cannot be that God brings suffering on the innocent."
However, the book of Job serves as a lesson to teach us otherwise. Job was a perfect tzaddik before his life turned to one of suffering. God brought difficulties upon him as a test, to prove to Satan that Job's righteousness was not simply a result of circumstance. Job endured his suffering and was strengthened and ennobled through it. Job was not guilty of anything, and despite his righteousness - or even because of it – he had to endure suffering. In his case, suffering was a test. From this we see the principle of 'tzaddik v'ra lo' – that good people suffer.