Jewish response

• Belief that everything God does is good, to trust whatever happens on Earth as it’s God’s plan.
• Tenakh teaches, suffering can be punishment for sins.
• Tenakh teaches suffering can be part of God’s test for person’s faith - see if freely choose to follow God’s commandments - passing = rewarded this life or afterlife.
• Believe suffering can bring one closer to God and they can turn to religion for comfort and support.
• Suffering cannot be understood by humans (particularly relates to suffering Jews endured during Holocaust) - many believe must do all they can to overcome and relieve suffering.
• STORY OF JOB

  • Describes good man who loves God.
  • Satan challenges God (Job is only good as has everything), so causes Job suffering to test faith.
  • Job learn not to question God,but accept things.
  • Teaches God’s ways are beyond human understanding.
• Jews often asked why Gdo allows such events to occur.
• The Talmud tells of a rabbi who was also an excellent healer:

  • someone said to him if God wanted man to be well, God wouldn’t let him be ill.
  • The rabbi replied, if God wanted people to be il, then he wouldn’t have created the medicines to help people become well.