B"H

Thursday, Iyar 17, 5785 (32nd day of the Omer) / May 15, 2025

Each Shabbat, from after Pesach through the summer, we study the Pirkei Avot - Chapters of our Fathers. The fourth chapter of Pirkei Avot, which we will read this Shabbat, addresses the age-old question, "Why do bad things happen to good people while good things happen to bad people?"

Rabbi Yanei says, “It is not within our ability to understand or explain the tranquility of the wicked or the suffering of the righteous.”

Simply stated, Rabbi Yanei says that we do not have, nor can we comprehend the answer to this question.  They are within the realm of secrets that only G-d knows and has not revealed to mankind.  As a result, we cannot let this affect our belief in G-d's justice. G-d takes into account the whole picture - the past; present and future.  Only G-d can know the reason and outcome of His actions.

The Midrash tells us that after witnessing a particular seemingly unfair incident, Moshe, the greatest of all prophets, asked G-d to explain to him why at times G-d's ways seem to be unjust.  

G-d took him back in time and showed him what transpired before.  Moshe then admitted that G-d's ways were indeed fair and righteous.

According to the Kaballah (mystical teaching), most souls have been here in a previous life.  When a soul does not accomplish G-d's mission the first time around, it returns again and again until it achieves it.  Thus, when things do not seem to be as they should, perhaps it is because we do not see what happened in one’s previous lifetime.

And the good things that happen to bad people may result from the good deeds of their ancestors.

Rabbi Chaim of Tzanz (1793-1876) one of the Torah giants of his time, had a child who passed away at the young age of seven.  The funeral took place in the morning. Afterwards, everyone went to the synagogue for the morning prayers.  Rabbi Chaim sat in synagogue very distressed and pained.  He was immersed in thought and was having difficulty preparing for the service.

After a while he turned to the congregation and said, "Imagine a person walking in the street and suddenly someone slaps him on his back.  He quickly spins around in anger ready to strike back.  But when he sees that it is his best friend, he is no longer angry for he realizes that this was not an act of hate but a friendly gesture.”

“I too,” concluded Rabbi Chaim, “have gotten today a painful blow.  But after giving this matter some thought I realized that it was our loving G-d Who did this to me.  How can I be angry at Him?  I accept His judgment with love and I'm ready to serve Him with all my heart and soul.  Now let us begin the service!”

HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY

OUR HEARTS ARE WITH OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN CAPTIVITY - MAY THEY ALL BE RELEASED NOW