[Avodah] Sparing One of Losing a Loved One

[Micha Berger]

On Wed, May 11, 2011 at 06:36:45PM -0400, Richard Wolberg wrote:
: R' Micha wrote:
:> An earlier example is when Hashem saved Lot and his family from the
:> destruction of Sodom. There too Lot was saved primarily in Avraham's
:> merit, that Avraham should be spared the pain of losing his nephew.

: If the above is true -- that God saved Lot in order that Avraham should
: be spared the pain of losing his nephew, it seems pretty paradoxical
: that God would not have spared Aharon the pain of losing his two
: sons. Obviously it the merit of Moshe could have been legitimate and
: certainly Aharon was greater than Lot. This logic does not hold.

Why? Bad things happen to good people, whether we speak of Aharon's loss
or Moshe's, or anyone else who knew and loved -- or even mildly cared
about -- Nadav and Avihu. For that matter, there are secondary effects.
Not only would the loss of nephews have to fit Hashem's plan for Moshe's
life, but also having a mourning brother. For that matter, Hashem's
plan would only include their death if having a beloved teacher greive
in this way belongs as part of Yehoshua's life. Etc...

: ...
: The second thing is: Does it bring any comfort to all those people who
: have been devastated by floods (such as what just happened in Mississippi)
: to tell them that not to worry -- it's just them and their families
: that will be destroyed by flooding but not the whole world?

I am certain that many found solace walking to the gas chambers in their
knowledge that the Jewish People would live on.

I can't answer your first question. ("...[T]here are at least a dozen
other means" -- and more horrific ones -- "of destroying the world. So
what's the greatness of not destroying mankind with water.")

But this latter question seems to be a straightforward "yes". People do
find tragedy more bearable when they know that at least the things they
lived for will go on.

Tir'u baTov!
-Micha

-- 
Micha Berger             Today is the 23rd day, which is
micha at aishdas.org        3 weeks and 2 days in/toward the omer.
http://www.aishdas.org   Gevurah sheb'Netzach: How does my domination
Fax: (270) 514-1507                            stifle others?

Tir'u baTov!
-Micha

-- 
Micha Berger             Today is the 23rd day, which is
micha at aishdas.org        3 weeks and 2 days in/toward the omer.
http://www.aishdas.org   Gevurah sheb'Netzach: How does my domination
Fax: (270) 514-1507                            stifle others?