B"H
The Chazon Ish z"l:
The reason why so many Zaddikim (righteous) and Chassidim were killed during the Holocaust ? - Because people didn't protest against the sinners.
I haven't really dealt with the Chazon Ish so far and, therefore, my question is:
Who are those sinners ?
1. The Secular
2. The Zionists
or
3. Both.
Whatever the answer may be, I have to say that I do not agree with someone claiming that the Holocaust happened because of such and such. Or religious Jews got killed because of this or that reason.
In many haredi Shiurim (litvish + chassidic) I have heard the opinion that the Holocaust happened because Western European Jewry became more and more assimilated and thus secular. Let alone Reform.
In my eyes this claim is a kind of a Chutzpah because we are not G - d. Meaning WE DON'T KNOW. We don't know why the Holocaust happened !
There may be many among us who are disturbed by the fact that something terrible happened. Millions of Jews got killed without any explanation from G - d's side. It seems so unfair and our mind is unable to grasp it. Gas chambers, torture - how can a human mind deal with it ? Didn't G - d promise us Meshiach and His Shechinah (presense) ?
Where was HE during the Shoah ?
We are allowed to ask all the questions but we haven't received a G - dly answer yet.
In order to satisfy our longing for logic, we shouldn't accuse the secular world or the Zionists for causing a Holocaust. If G - d ever confirms this kind of statement, I will accept it but until then, it is just unfair making such a claim !
I agree--we will not know until Gd sees fit to let us know. My bubbie once made a remark that both religious and seculars died, and also survived, so maybe there is a lesson in that someplace.
ReplyDeleteThe arguement "We are not G-d so we cant know why things happen" is true but flawed in your logic.
ReplyDeleteIt is clear in Torah and many commentators in the Gemara up to Rambam and all the Rishonim say.
You can not judge why things happen to a man because you have never walked in his shoes. Man is singular.
Hashem tells us what will happen when the masses sway from Torah so it is no secret it says it right in the 5 books. Rambam in I believe Hilchos De'os says that it can be explained why bad things happen to Klal Yisroel.
You know what Chutzpah is? You thinking you are some sort of Talmud Chacham that you have a stronger grasp on reality than the heligah Chazon Ish zt"l, or that he just says something to get a reaction so you have something to write about in your blog.
There are books published with Tzaddikim commenting on the Holocaust. Even the Chofetz Chaim said on his deathbed that darkness was about to devour Europe. You have the upper intellectual hand on him as well?
Why cant we give a reason? Because its so fresh in our mind? If there is no reason to be found then why did it happen? Everything in this world is a message from Hashem for us to learn from. If you dont listen to the Tzaddikim and heed their words then it will happen again. Holocausts have happened constantly since the destruction of the Temple. You dont consider that to have been a Holocaust? The Gemara goes at great length giving reasons why it happened.
If you dont learn from History you are doomed to repeat it CV"S.
The Holocaust happened because of assimilation and the religious casting them away.
In the end we have Eretz Yisroel and more Jews doing mitzvos than ever before.
Moshiach will come soon and you wont have to write your blog anymore.
B"H
ReplyDeleteAs I repeatedly said, most times I am expressing my own opinions. My opinion on subjects without saying that the Chazon Ish or the Chafetz Chaim are wrong.
However, it seems like you read what you wanted to read: Negativity.
We can say whatever we want, we still don't know why G - d lets things happen, as our thought are not His thoughts. There are things we can simply not understand and should admit it instead of looking for reasons.
Of course, we can learn from desasters. If something is happening, we should always look and try to fix ourselves instead of always pointing at others.
By the way, I would continue writing when the Meshiach comes.:-) Secondly, if I don't like a website / blog, I don't bother reading it.
To Post 9:19:
ReplyDeleteRead the following response by the Lubavitcher Rebbe, zt'l, regarding the holocaust:
"In his writings and discussions on the subject, the Rebbe rejected all theological explanations for the Holocaust. What greater conceit -- the Rebbe would say -- and what greater heartlessness, can there be than to give a "reason" for the death and torture of millions of innocent men, women and children? Can we presume to assume that an explanation small enough to fit inside the finite bounds of human reason can explain a horror of such magnitude? We can only concede that there are things that lie beyond the finite ken of the human mind. Echoing his father-in-law, the Rebbe would say: It is not my task to justify G-d on this. Only G-d Himself can answer for what He allowed to happen. And the only answer we will accept, said the Rebbe, is the immediate and complete Redemption that will forever banish evil from the face of the earth and bring to light the intrinsic goodness and perfection of G-d's creation."
http://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/64888/jewish/The-Rebbe-on-the-Holocaust.htm
B"H
ReplyDelete@ Michal
I like the Rebbe's explanation, as it brings it to the point. There are things in this world which are far beyong our comprehension.
When it comes to the Holocaust, I am not looking for a reason because I cannot find one. If I knew the answer I would be G - d and I am not.
In July 2000, the former Sephardic Chief Rabbi Ovadiah Yosef claimed publically that all those Jews who died in the Holocaust where Gilgulim (reincarnations). I think that he may have been referring to a whole generation of Erev Rav.
Israelis, and especially Israelis who are Holocaust survivors, where extremely upset about the Rabbi's statement. Some survivors even called Help Lines because the statement caused them such a psychological distress.
Even if it was true, one doesn't have to make such a public statement without know if this is really true. By the way, the Ashkenai Chief Rabbi (then), Rabbi Lau, criticised Rabbi Yosef for his public statement.