In class we struggled with the idea that G-d would punish not only those who sinned, but the completely innocent, the babies and children.
To try to reconcile this idea, we discussed how Devarim Perekim 28-30 G-d goes into explicit detail about what will happen when (implying that it is inevitable) Bnei Yisrael sins. He says that every single person in the nation will suffer, not just those who sinned. It describes exactly what the people experienced upon the destruction of the Beit Hamikdash and Yerushalayim.
We talked about how these Pesukim are sort of an excuse, for lack of a better word, for why G-d could punish everyone, including the innocent. However, is this supposed to keep our stomachs from churning when we hear about how the women would eat their own children out of starvation? Why does the fact that G-d previously promised this suffering make it any better that He would punish the innocent children? In my opinion, all that this tells us is that he decided long before the destruction of Yerushalayim that everyone would suffer. This still seems cruel to me. I don't think that the fact that He warned the people in the Torah that this destruction and suffering would take place changes how cruel and merciless it seems to be.
Thoughts, people? I'm interested to see what y'all think.
I agree, considering that we are only responsible for ourselves so we cannot control what others do. I think collective punishment is unfair and it makes me sick to think about that the children were destroyed. As I talked about in my blogs, maybe later in time we will discover that suffering is beneficial and it is hinted in the torah. I know, I know, it is not an excuse, but since we do not really get it, this is the only thing I can think of that can possibly make sense and answer the question why people suffer.
ReplyDeleteI think that while it might be unfair, it is also fair because like we learned in Kohelet, everyone sins. The Chacham told the Yirei Elokim that it is impossible to be as righteous as he was because everyone is bound to sin at some point in their life. In this situations, those many people were sinning more than everyone else, but I have no doubt that the influence somehow got to everyone and everyone was sinning in someway because of that.
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure if I agree with this. I think that the pesukim we studied in Devarim were really meant as a warning (or foreshadowing of some sort), rather than an excuse to justify the punishment. We know that Hashem only punishes us for very distinct transgressions, and Bnei Yisrael exceeded the limit. This is not to say that our hearts cannot mourn over the horrible nature of the destruction, but Bnei Yisrael had plenty of guidance and instruction on how to repent. They chose not to, and they had to face the repercussions.
ReplyDeleteI think it is very cruel as well, but the Jews needed to learn from their mistakes. If they were punished individually, the sinners would get their punishment, and it would be over. But if everyone collectively gets punished, then the sinners may feel some sort of guilt. I think guilt is a terrible feeling therefore a great punishment. Plus if they feel this horrible guilt, they most likely will be more careful next time they want to sin.
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