Rejoice at Suffering of Others

 Shiurei Daas (2:13): Sanhedrin (101a): When R’ Eliezer became sick, R’ Akiva laughed when he saw him suffering. He explained, “I was worried that Heaven forefend that my teacher was receiving all his reward in this world, but now that I see him suffering I am happy.” It is very difficult to hear these words and our minds simply can’t tolerate them. How can somebody be happy at another’s suffering especially someone as great as R’ Eliezer - whose holiness is described in many places in the gemora and Zohar… This gemora is so incredible that there is nothing comparable to it. While it is clearly praise worthy to rejoice at one’s own suffering but it is totally offensive to rejoice at another’s suffering - even if the intent is for the good of the other person…. However if you think deeply about it from another perspective, not only is it not problem to rejoice at another’s suffering but it is obvious that just the opposite is true. Why shouldn’t a very spiritual person rejoice at other people’s suffering? He is fully aware that the suffering is beneficial for the person’s soul? Someone who deeply understands the purpose of man in this world will obviously rejoice. He knows how indispensable it is to attain the true pleasure of the World to Come even at the expense of the worthless pleasures of this world… To cry over the suffering of others or to comfort them for their suffering is appropriate for all people and there is obviously nothing wrong with it. In fact empathizing with the other’s suffering involves the best of human nature. Comforting others isn’t a problem even if he isn’t deeply affected by the suffering or his condolences are not totally sincere. In contrast to rejoice at another’s suffering or to console him by saying that the suffering is wonderful is only relevant for someone who is truly knows that he loves the sufferer in the deepest recesses of his soul. Only a person who can determine that his rejoicing flows from absolute knowledge that the suffering is beneficial is permitted to express rejoicing. However for anyone who has not reached this level of perfection it is very likely that his rejoicing is not pure. Lesser people can assume that there are subconscious factors that poison the purity of their joy and contain aspects of cruelty and enjoyment of the plight of the unfortunate.