Why do bad things happen to good people? This week, Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald, Founder of NJOP, discusses the important philosophical concept of theodicy which explores why the righteous suffer and the wicked flourish. Last weekend, we learned of the tragedy in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, when a young, Hasidic couple were killed in a car accident by a suspected drunk driver. Their baby, who was delivered via c-section soon after, died the next day. Why did God allow this to happen? We have to go to the story of Creation. When was evil introduced into the world? On the 6th day, God saw what he created and it was good. It was when Adam and Eve ate the forbidden fruit that evil, pain and suffering were introduced to the world. God gave humans free will and it was they who brought in evil. But God also gave us an incredible gift. A gift to heal illnesses and to remove evil from the world. It is up to us.
So let's take this devastating story of the young lives cut short. We have the capacity to enforce laws better. Perhaps this convicted offender shouldn't have been allowed back on the streets. Perhaps cars that won't start if the driver is inebriated should be more widely available. Cars can be built safer. There is also technology to cure many serious illnesses. It is really a question of whether we are determined to do it. While we express our condolences to the families of the deceased, we need to also speak to ourselves and understand that the committment is ours to make. We must perfect the world. We have to work harder to eliminate the evil, injustices and illnesses. We can do better.
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