https://jewishnews.timesofisrael.com/more-than-100-charedi-women-trapped-in-religious-marriages/
More than 100 Charedi women are trapped in religious marriages in the UK, Labour Peer Jon Mendelsohn has said.
Tuesday, August 31, 2021
Angels judge and kill
Tanis (21a) Ilfa and R. Johanan studied together the Torah and they found themselves in great want and they said one to another, Let us go and engage in commerce so that of us may be fulfilled the verse, Howbeit there shall be no need among you. They went and sat down under a ruinous wall and while they were having their meal two ministering angels came and R. Johanan overheard one saying to the other, Let us throw this wall upon these people and kill them, because they forsake life eternal and occupy themselves with life temporal. The other angelreplied: Leave them alone because one of them has still much to achieve. R. Johanan heard this but Ilfa did not. Whereupon R. Johanan said to Ilfa, Master, have you heard anything? He replied: No. Thereupon R. Johanan said to himself: Seeing that I heard this and Ilfa has not, it is evident that I am the one who still has much to achieve. R. Johanan then said to Ilfa: I will go back, that of me may be fulfilled, For the poor shall never cease out of the land. Thereupon R. Johanan went back but Ilfa did not. When at last Ilfa returned, R. Johanan was already presiding over the school, and the scholars said to him: Had you remained here and studied the Torah you might have been presiding. Ilfa then suspended himself from the mast of a ship and exclaimed, If there is any one who will ask me a question from the Baraithas of R. Hiyya and R. Hoshaiah and I fail to elucidate it from the Mishnah then I will throw myself down and be drowned in the sea. And an old man came forward and cited the following Baraitha: If a man in his last will and testament declares, Give a shekel weekly to my sons, but actually they needed a sela’ then they should be given a sela’; but if he declared, Give them a shekel only, then they should be given a shekel. If, however, he declared, On their death others should inherit their allowance in their stead, then whether he has declared ‘give’ or ‘give only’ they are given a shekel only. He replied: This is in accordance with the view of R. Meir who said: It is a duty to carry out the will of a dying man.
Poll: Ron DeSantis approval rating sags as COVID-19 rages
DeSantis drew just 44% of Florida voters saying they approve of the job he is doing, while 49% said they do not approve of his job performance. The rest were unsure.
That is a huge swing from the job approval numbers DeSantis received in a Florida Chamber of Commerce poll in May. That survey gave him a 55% approval for his job performance, with 40% not approving.
NY Jewish institutions hit with 150 child sex abuse lawsuits since 2019
At least 150 child sex abuse lawsuits were filed against Jewish institutions in New York over the past two years, under a special law that temporarily lifted the statute of limitations barring old claims, according to an analysis of the New York court system by the Jewish Telegraphic Agency.
Rabbi Chaim Kanievsky says go to police over sexual abuse incidents
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/kanievsky-says-go-to-police-over-sexual-abuse-incidents-678178
Rabbi Chaim Kanievsky, the leading rabbi of the Ashkenazi
non-hassidic ultra-Orthodox community, has stated that complaints over
sexual abuse should be made to the police, in comments which have been
released to the public by the rabbi’s advisors.
The
comments were made three years ago but have only now been publicly
disclosed in a video seen by The Jerusalem Post of the meeting in which
the rabbi stated his position. Kanievsky previously stated in 2015
regarding a specific case that a victim could report his abuse to the
police, but the new comments refer in general to all incidents of sexual
abuse and the video of his ruling was officially approved for release
by the rabbi’s advisers.
Monday, August 30, 2021
3 chareidim allegedly invented the story of the Sanhedria Murchevet satanic abuse ring - to make money for themsevles!
Today 3 chareidim were arrested for making up the story in order to raise money for their own pockets
=====================================
http://daattorah.blogspot.com/2015/03/satanic-child-abuse-is-there-ring-of.html
http://daattorah.blogspot.com/2015/03/sanhedria-murchevet-problematic.html
http://daattorah.blogspot.com/2015/03/satanic-child-abuse-is-there-ring-of.html
http://daattorah.blogspot.com/2015/08/satanic-child-abuse-hysteria-in-1980s.html
http://daattorah.blogspot.com/2015/03/update-where-satanic-abuse-ring-panic.html
http://daattorah.blogspot.com/2015/03/satanic-child-abuse-is-believed-by-anti.html
http://daattorah.blogspot.com/2015/07/a-disturbing-postscript-to-sanhedria.html
http://daattorah.blogspot.com/2015/03/dangerous-false-rumors-flourish-when.html
http://daattorah.blogspot.com/2015/03/satanic-child-abuse-is-there-ring-of.html
http://daattorah.blogspot.com/2015/03/sanhedria-murchevet-problematic.html
http://daattorah.blogspot.com/2015/03/satanic-child-abuse-is-there-ring-of.html
http://daattorah.blogspot.com/2015/08/satanic-child-abuse-hysteria-in-1980s.html
http://daattorah.blogspot.com/2015/03/update-where-satanic-abuse-ring-panic.html
http://daattorah.blogspot.com/2015/03/satanic-child-abuse-is-believed-by-anti.html
http://daattorah.blogspot.com/2015/07/a-disturbing-postscript-to-sanhedria.html
http://daattorah.blogspot.com/2015/03/dangerous-false-rumors-flourish-when.html
update bhol - relationship to Nachlaot
לאחר למעלה משנתיים של חקירה מעמיקה, המשטרה הגיעה למסקנה כי ה"אגדה" בדבר קיומה של כת שהחברים בה מתעללים בילדים ומעבירים אותם על דתם לנצרות - אינה קיימת כלל.
הערב חושף "בחדרי חרדים" כיצד עבדה השיטה. על מנת להבין את הפרשה, הבה נחזור לאוגוסט 2011 אז התפוצצה פרשת התקיפות הגדולה ביותר שידעה מדינת ישראל. כתבי אישום הוגשו נגד שלושה חשודים בגין תקיפת והטרדת עשרות ילדים בגילאי 12-3 בשכונת נחלאות בירושלים.
גם לאחר החקירה והגשת כתבי האישום, בשכונה שררה אווירה מתוחה והתושבים טענו שהמשטרה פוסלת עדויות ומשחררת עצורים ועדיין ישנם אנשים מסוכנים המסתובבים בשכונה אשר פוגעים בילדים.
אחת מתושבות השכונה, אז בת 72, עליה סיפרו אגדות כי יש לה מרתפים עם חומרים מסיונריים, הוכתה באלימות קשה ובגין כך הוגש כתב אישום בין היתר נגד הרב משה שפירא ששלח את המכים. "צריך פשוט להכות אותה עד לאשפוז, וגם לא יהיה איכפת אם לא יהיה את מי לאשפז" הוקלט הרב אומר לאנשיו.
על רקע הפרשה שהסעירה את ירושלים ואת הקהילה חרדית, נמצא כר נוח לגריפת כספים. על פי חשד המשטרה, החלה ד' בפעילות ומסע שיכנועים ארוך ומאסיבי בו הצליחה לשכנע לא מעט מתושבי שכונת סנהדריה בעיר, כי ישנה "כת" הפועלת מטעם ארגונים נוצריים להמרת דתם של ילדים, חוטפת אותם למנזרים ואף מתעללת בהם.
ל"בחדרי חרדים" נודע כי תלמוד תורה חרדי מוכר קיבל פנייה מהחשודה כי מאחר וישנם אלמונים שעושים מעשים חמורים בשכונה היא מוכנה לתרום מספר בודד של מצלמות אבטחה שיותקנו ברחבי תלמוד התורה על מנת לעקוב אחר ה"פושעים". אלה השתכנעו והמצלמות הותקנו, אך הדבר גרם לפאניקה מוחלטת בקרב ההורים, שדרשו ממנהלי התלמוד תורה להשקיע בביטחון התלמידים. המנהלים נכנעו ללחץ ורכשו עוד עשרות מצלמות בעלויות כספיות גדולות - אולם דמויות חשודות לא נמצאו.
על רקע החשש הגדול של ההורים, על פי החשד, פנתה ד' לרבני השכונה וסיפרה להם על "המעשים החמורים" שמתבצעים בשכונה והשמועה עברה מפה לאוזן. ד' פנתה להורי ילדים ולהנהלת תלמוד התורה לגבי ילדים מסויימים שצריכים טיפול.
[...]
ה"כת שלא הייתה": כך עבדה השיטה; ומה הקשר לתקיפות בנחלאות
לאחר מעצר 3 החשודים ב"המצאת כת נוצרית" והוצאת כספים במרמה מתושבים חרדים, "בחדרי חרדים" חושף לראשונה כיצד פעלה השיטה - שכנוע רבנים, התקנת מצלמות אבטחה וזריעת פאניקה. ומה הקשר לפרשת התקיפות בנחלאות • הסיפור המלא
לאחר למעלה משנתיים של חקירה מעמיקה, המשטרה הגיעה למסקנה כי ה"אגדה" בדבר קיומה של כת שהחברים בה מתעללים בילדים ומעבירים אותם על דתם לנצרות - אינה קיימת כלל.
הערב חושף "בחדרי חרדים" כיצד עבדה השיטה. על מנת להבין את הפרשה, הבה נחזור לאוגוסט 2011 אז התפוצצה פרשת התקיפות הגדולה ביותר שידעה מדינת ישראל. כתבי אישום הוגשו נגד שלושה חשודים בגין תקיפת והטרדת עשרות ילדים בגילאי 12-3 בשכונת נחלאות בירושלים.
גם לאחר החקירה והגשת כתבי האישום, בשכונה שררה אווירה מתוחה והתושבים טענו שהמשטרה פוסלת עדויות ומשחררת עצורים ועדיין ישנם אנשים מסוכנים המסתובבים בשכונה אשר פוגעים בילדים.
אחת מתושבות השכונה, אז בת 72, עליה סיפרו אגדות כי יש לה מרתפים עם חומרים מסיונריים, הוכתה באלימות קשה ובגין כך הוגש כתב אישום בין היתר נגד הרב משה שפירא ששלח את המכים. "צריך פשוט להכות אותה עד לאשפוז, וגם לא יהיה איכפת אם לא יהיה את מי לאשפז" הוקלט הרב אומר לאנשיו.
על רקע הפרשה שהסעירה את ירושלים ואת הקהילה חרדית, נמצא כר נוח לגריפת כספים. על פי חשד המשטרה, החלה ד' בפעילות ומסע שיכנועים ארוך ומאסיבי בו הצליחה לשכנע לא מעט מתושבי שכונת סנהדריה בעיר, כי ישנה "כת" הפועלת מטעם ארגונים נוצריים להמרת דתם של ילדים, חוטפת אותם למנזרים ואף מתעללת בהם.
ל"בחדרי חרדים" נודע כי תלמוד תורה חרדי מוכר קיבל פנייה מהחשודה כי מאחר וישנם אלמונים שעושים מעשים חמורים בשכונה היא מוכנה לתרום מספר בודד של מצלמות אבטחה שיותקנו ברחבי תלמוד התורה על מנת לעקוב אחר ה"פושעים". אלה השתכנעו והמצלמות הותקנו, אך הדבר גרם לפאניקה מוחלטת בקרב ההורים, שדרשו ממנהלי התלמוד תורה להשקיע בביטחון התלמידים. המנהלים נכנעו ללחץ ורכשו עוד עשרות מצלמות בעלויות כספיות גדולות - אולם דמויות חשודות לא נמצאו.
על רקע החשש הגדול של ההורים, על פי החשד, פנתה ד' לרבני השכונה וסיפרה להם על "המעשים החמורים" שמתבצעים בשכונה והשמועה עברה מפה לאוזן. ד' פנתה להורי ילדים ולהנהלת תלמוד התורה לגבי ילדים מסויימים שצריכים טיפול.
[...]
המציאו כת שתוקפת ילדים, אספו כסף ונעצרו
המשטרה עצרה שלושה חרדים החשודים שאספו כספים ואף פנו לקבלת תקציבים במטרה לסייע בהתמודדות עם כת אותה בדו מדמיונם כשלטענתם היא פגעה במאות ילדים (משטרה)
הציגו מצג שווא לפיו מאות ילדים נחטפו ע"י 'כת', הותקפו פיזית ואולצו להמיר דתם במטרה לקבל כספים מתורמים וארגונים אותם עפ"י החשד לקחו לכיסם
במשטרת ישראל מתנהלת חקירה ע"פ החשד מספר חשודים חרדים קיבלו במרמה כספים מתורמים בארץ ובחו"ל, ואף ניסו לקבל כספים גם מארגונים ממשלתיים וזאת בטענה לקיומה לכאורה של כת שהחברים בה מתעללים בילדים וככל הנראה קשורה לנצרות.
החקירה הסמויה במשטרה החלה לפני כשנתיים בעקבות מידע שהתקבל לפיו בשכונת סנהדריה בירושלים ישנה כת שהחברים בה חוטפים ילדים בגילאי 4-10 כדי לפגוע בהם וכן כדי להמיר את דתם. ע"פי המידע שהתקבל נפגעו כך מאות ילדים.
בחקירה עלה כי לא קיימת כת וכי החשודים הציגו מצג בפני אנשי הקהילה כי מדובר בכת נרחבת. מממצאי החקירה עולה כי במספר מקרים בודדים בהם עלה חשד לפגיעה בילדים הוכח כי אין קשר בין המקרים וכי אין קשר לכת.
אתמול עוכבו 3 חשודים והובאו לחקירה במרחב ציון. החשודים נחקרו בחשד להתעללות בילדים וקבלת דבר במרמה.
And English translation appeared on the website of Jewish Community Watch
Using fictitious stories they created, the suspects fraudulently raised funds to help “save children kidnapped and abused by a cult
Several suspects have been accused of creating a fictitious story stating that hundreds of children have been abducted by a cult in a Chareidi neighborhood in Jerusalem, abused, and even converted to Christianity- all in order to scam fund from donors and organizations that they are alleged to have pocketed.
Israeli police have been conducting a lengthy investigation and alleged that that the suspects received fraudulant funds from donors in Israel and abroad, as well as trying to get governmental funding, using the claim of an existence of a sect of child molesters, possibly connected to Christianity.
The undercover investigation by the police began two years ago in the wake of information received that there was a cult active in the Sanhedria neighborhood in Jerusalem that was kidnapping children ages 4-10 to harm and abuse them and to convert them to Christianity. According to the information received, hundreds of children had been affected.
The investigation revealed no evidence of the widespread cult that the suspects presented to the community. The findings of the investigation indicate that the number of individual cases of abused and injured children which raised suspicion had no relationship to a cult.
Yesterday the police detained three suspects, including a woman. They were brought in for questioning on suspicion of child abuse and fraud.
At the conclusion of the investigation yesterday, which involved the prosecutions office and social services (revacha), two of the suspects, a man and a woman, were arrested and brought before the Jerusalem court which released them on condition of house arrest until 16/08/16
In addition, the court imposed a gag order on defense counsel regarding the details of the suspects.
Sanhedria Murchevet Satanic abuse rings: Dr Joy Silberg a believer in Satanic cults (and repressed memories) and Rabbi Yitzchok Berkowitz
As I have noted, I recently had an an exchange of emails with Dr. Joy Silberg - a Baltimore psychologist who is viewed by many as an authority on child abuse. She also has trained, endorses and is supportive of the two therapists (neither who are psychologists) - who were charged by the Israeli police with propagating false allegations in the community that satanic abuse rings are operating in Jerusalem - for financial gain.
Dr. Silberg wrote to me that she has seen no evidence of the existence of a satanic abuse ring - but she refuses to state this publicly. She did send me a very neutral statement that I could publish - that simply says that no conclusions should be made until all the data is evaluated and that the rabbis, professional investigators should be respected. It is important to note that she made absolutely no mention of reporting information to the police or even involving them in dealing with this problem.
In addition I published her endorsement of a book - which is widely discredited account of a woman who has survived satanic abuse. Furthermore she recommended that I read a book by Ross Cheit - that claims that the "witch hunt hysteria in America regarding satanic abuse - which has been widely discredited - in fact contains "kernels of truth". Finally, despite the widespread rejection of "recovered memories" or "suppressed memories" that are recovered by some therapists - she still firmly believes in them. http://www.scientificamerican.
Aside from the role of Dr. Silberg in providing not only the therapists but also the authority behind the belief in satanic cults in Jersualem - we have the question of her connection to Rabbi Berkowitz - the Rav of Sanhedredia Murchevet who last year publicly claimed that these cults exist and apparently still does - in spite of the claims of the police that they have found no supportive evidence.
It is helpful to reread the transcript of Rabbi Berkowitz public announcement from last year
From the transcript of Rabbi Berkowitz;
At the end of ;i."vl!m 1011, I received a phone call, a phone call from one of the yungerleit in the neighborhood, a member of the ·kehilla, someone whose family I know very well, I know every one of the children. He tells me, his daughter seems like she's trying to say something, his daughter sounds like someone hurt her, but he doesn't quite understand. I recommended that the daughter be brought to a woman I know that specializes in molestation, works primarily in chutz la'aretz, but happens to be here a good part of the year- I sent her there.
After a session that lasted hours, I get a phone call from this therapist, and she says -I took out the teddy bears, and this girl described to me an act of oines, nothing less, with all the details - to the very end, including how they cleaned her up, and what hurt and when. In the conversation, what also emerged was that this happened many times.
Obviously, I was shaken. I immediately phoned Mrs. Coopersmith from the children's unit at Neve, someone I always consulted with in issues of child psychology. I said I understand this is something that cannot go unreported - what do I do? She said, you've got to go the TI'i1 m;ti1'1 D1Yl, a place that was set up for interrogating children, rather than the police station .... social worker's there, a police representative. Something that's supposed to be a little more user-friendly for the kid. The girl was traumatized by the initial session with the therapist. The parents were even more traumatized. It took a lot of convincing - they went. The girl was once again traumatized - and said nothing. She wouldn't say anything. So I was informed, there's not much that can be done, because the girl isn't talking.
Third, and this is what's most frightening, they use all sorts of technology, and systems, for compartmentalizing their brain, so that whatever they're experiencing remains subconscious, conscious on only a certain level, and the other part of their brain is totally unaffected by it, so that they won't talk. This seems quite clear, we've even discovered a lot of the technology. So kids don't naturally talk
An interesting article http://law2.umkc.edu/faculty/
Another interesting article http://www.process.org/
Questions:
Who is the specialist that used Teddy Bears to elicit a 'clear picture of the abuse that took place'
DID the methods used possibly give results more indicative of what this therapist wanted to hear rather than what actually occurred?
Where DID Rabbi Berkowitz get this idea of a compartmentalized brain and what kind of technology is capable of doing this! (all within the hour that they disappeared on the way home from school.)
Are the police being suspected by Rabbi Berkowitz and Dr. Silberg of collusion with the abuse rings?
After 3 years of public hysteria and panic - with claims of over 400 children being abused and yet no suspects - what is needed to end this chilul hashem?
A disturbing postscript to the Sanhedria allegations of Satanic abuse
One response I got was something I never expected. It came from a kollel member. After listening to the discussion I was having with another relative - he commented the following.
"What are you getting involved in this matter. It is none of your business. Rav Berkowitz is great talmid chachom who knows his community very well. You are not part of the Sanhedria community, You have no children there. Why are you getting involved? Rav Berkowitz has consulted experts, he has gathered testimony. You have no basis to disagree with him.
I pointed out that the Satanic abuse accusations have been made hundreds of times over the last few decades - and not one case and been proven to be true. That alone should give pause to any responsible person from make such accusations. In addition I noted that I have in fact spoken to people regarding the evidence - including professional in the field of abuse. None of these people believed Rav Berkowitz' claims.
He responded, "Just because no proof has been found so far - it doesn't mean it there is no such thing. Rav Berkowitz has seen the evidence and he clearly disagrees with you. What are you getting involved in this issue for?
I responded - "The mitzva of not standing idly by the blood of your fellow" says nothing about having to belong to a community in order to get involved. Rav Berkowitz is a wondeful person but he is not an expert in these matters and the people he has consulted don't seem to be experts either. The experts seem to be afraid to get involved in this matter in a public fashion"
I obviously had no influence on him. The discussion continued for sometime - but I was struck by the incredible blindness to reality and reliance on rabbinic authority (when it clearly was inappropriate and even harmful)
Rabbi brothers suspected of sex abuse at their Jerusalem yeshiva
https://www.timesofisrael.com/rabbi-brothers-suspected-of-sex-abuse-at-their-jerusalem-yeshiva/
An ultra-Orthodox rabbinical court has found that two brothers who head a Jerusalem yeshiva have for years allegedly sexually assaulted their high school and post-high school students.
In a Friday ruling, the panel of five prominent ultra-Orthodox rabbis said that brothers Yitzhak and Moshe Tufik present a “serious threat” to students and advised that no students should enroll at their Be’er Yehuda yeshiva, located in the Sanhedria neighborhood of Jerusalem.
Yitzhak is dean of the upper yeshiva and Moshe is dean of the high school yeshiva, which is well-known in the Sephardic ultra-Orthodox community.
Sexual abuse by two rabbinic brothers suspected at Be’er Yehuda Yeshiva in Jerusalem
A special rabbinical court convened by five prominent haredi (ultra-Orthodox)
rabbis has ruled that two brothers who are deans of a prominent yeshiva
in Jerusalem sexually abused their students for years, and have
forbidden parents from sending their sons to the institution.
The
court said that “severe and obscene transgressions” had been committed
by Rabbi Yitzhak Tufik, dean of the Be’er Yehudah Yeshiva in the
Sanhedria neighborhood of Jerusalem, and his brother, Rabbi Moshe Tufik,
dean of the Be’er Yehudah “yeshiva ketana” for high-school pupils.
Saturday, August 28, 2021
Gam zu l'tova?
I am looking for a good explanation of the following
Rambam (Moreh Nevuchim 3:17) (3) Everything is controlled by Providence and there is no such thing as accident or chance at all. A corollary of this view is that the one who governs must have total knowledge of what will happen in the future. This is the view of the Islamic sect - the Azariyah. This view has tremendous problems and whoever accepts it is obligated to accept the inherent absurdities. For example they must accept the view of Aristotle that there is no difference between the falling of a leaf and the death of a person! They in fact agree to this equality but explain that in fact the wind itself only blows by the decree of G‑d and not by chance. Furthermore no leaf falls by chance but at a particular time and place by the direct decree of G‑d… Those accept this view also must believe all the movements of all living things are totally determined and that therefore man has neither the ability to initiate nor stop doing anything. Thus everything is totally determined and either must happen or can’t happen… It necessarily follows from this view that the Torah itself serves no purpose since man has no independent ability to obey what he is commanded to do or desist from that which he was commanded not to do. Those who accept this view say that G‑d will send messengers, command, warn, give hope and threaten - even though man has no free will. Thus it is possible that a person will be obligated to do something totally impossible and that even if a person fulfills the command he still might be punished while someone who transgresses will be rewarded. Therefore this view assumes that G‑d’s activities serve no purpose. All of these absurdities are inherent in this view so that when we see a person who was born blind or leprous it is not possible to conclude that these result from sin - but only that this is the will of G‑d. When we see a pious person tortured to death - we can only say that this is G‑d’s will and that this is not an injustice because it appropriate for G‑d to afflict the innocent and reward the sinner…
Rambam (Moreh Nevuchim 3:17): My belief concerning this fundamental principle of Providence is not based upon intellectual speculation and proofs but rather what is clearly the view found in the Torah and that of our prophets. This view is less bizarre and closer to reason than the other views I have described. I believe that Providence in this world i.e., that which is beneath the sphere of the moon only exists for man and not for other creatures. It is only for man that his circumstances and the good and evil that happen is according to absolute justice as it says All His ways are judgment (Devarim 32:4). But in regards to the rest of living beings and surely in regards to plants and other things, my view is that of Aristotle. I do not believe at all that a particular leaf falls because of providence, nor that a particular spider eats a particular fly because of a decree from G‑d that He wishes this to happen. Nor do I believe that the gnat that is killed by Reuven’s spitting is because of a Divine decree that the spittle should fall on it. I don’t believe G‑d that decrees that a particular worm should be eaten by a particular fish. All these cases occur simply because of pure chance - just as Aristotle asserted. Providence, in my opinion and according to what I see, is a function of the Divine overflow. Intelligence is the indicator or whether there is an attachment to this overflow. … Only intelligent beings are attached to this overflow are thus also attached to Providence and have their deeds judged as to reward and punishment….
Rambam (Moreh Nevuchim 3:18): We have just explained that Providence exists only for man and not any other creatures because it only applies to intelligent beings… Consequently the degree of providence will depend on how prepared his physical matter is and his level of learning - assuming as I do that providence is a function of intelligence. In other words providence is not the same for all people but rather is directly proportional to their perfection. According to this speculation, providence for prophets should be extremely great and should be a function of their level of prophesy. Similarly the providence for good and pious people should be a reflection of their degree of goodness and piety… In contrast fools and rebels, to the degree that they lack this Divine overflow their status is debased and at the extreme they become like animals He is comparable to the beasts who perish (Tehilim 49:13). That is why it is a relatively minor thing to kill evil people and in fact capital punishment for them is a Divine commandment. This idea that Providence varies according to the level of perfection of the individual is one of the most fundamental principles of the Torah…. Concerning the differential providence for pious men and degenerate fools (Shmuel I 2:9): He will guard the feet of His pious ones while the wicked will be silenced in the darkness because a man will not prevail with strength. The verse informs us that the reason that some individuals are saved from disaster while others aren’t is not because of their physical strength and natural dispositions. Rather it depends upon their degree of perfection and deficiency, i.e., their nearness or distance from G‑d… There are innumerable verses which indicate this principle that providence is proportional to perfection and piety. There are also philosophers e.g., Plato who agree with this principle…
Menoras HaMeor(#298): When a person has a calamity happen to him he should not think that it was just by chance. Because whoever mistakenly believes that is punished measure for measure and is deserted to chance without any protection… This is a very great punishment because there are many opportunities for accidents to happen and if one is deserted by Heaven he has no protection at all… This verse that says that evil doesn’t descend from Heaven is because a sinner doesn’t need to be harmed from Heaven it is sufficient that his protection is removed and then he vulnerable to accidents and suffering since there is no suffering without sin… Therefore a person must believe with solid faith that G‑d knows the secret matters and He is the true judge and judges the entire world …
R’ Yonason Eibschuetz (Ya’aros Devash 1:10): There are two types of calamities. The first comes from G‑d and appears bad but in fact it is absolutely good. Its start is difficult but it ends up sweet because its purpose is to cleanse a person from sin. That is because nothing bad ever comes from Heaven. This is what our sages (Berachos 5a) describe as “suffering from love” and “all those that G‑d loves He chastises.” The second type of calamity is the result of G‑d removing His Providence and thus leaving the person unprotected from harm - both from the astrological influences and the forces of nature. This resulting multitude of bad is in fact absolutely bad because G‑d removed His protection and no “suffering from love” results from accident. This second category - because of our many sins - is the source of much of Jewish suffering. It is described in the Torah (Vayikra 26:23–24): If you go with Me incidentally I will also go with you in an incidental manner. That means that if they view misfortune - not as a warning to repent from G‑d - but rather as an accident then G‑d will in fact leave them to the vicissitude of nature and mazel. Then they will in fact suffer randomly and thus all their misfortune will be bad. This is especially relevant for Jews since according to the astrological forces they could be destroyed - Heaven forbid - since they are descendants of Avraham. Avraham according to the astrological forces should never have had children and his children resulted only because G‑d lifted him beyond their influence. Thus in the realm of nature and mazel the Jews have no right to exist and therefore when they are left to these forces they have terrible suffering.
Malbim (Artzos HaChaim 1:2): … The Rambam in Moreh Nevuchim (3:51) describes a major insight. He asserts that Providence does not apply to man except to the degree that he is attached to the Supreme Intellect. Therefore for the developed person whose thoughts never stray from G‑d, Providence is attached to him constantly and consequently he is totally protected from harmful forces and experiences. To the degree that a person’s thoughts turn from G‑d to that degree Providence is removed from him and he is left to chance just as the animals of the field and the wild creatures of the forest. However Providence returns to protect him when he thinks about G‑d. … It follows therefore that a person determines by means of his thoughts whether he has Providence or is left to chance… In other words Providence from above does not descend to the earth except through the preparation man makes and when he turns his heart away from G‑d he causes Providence to desert him… Thus bad things result from the absence of Providence when he is left to chance and happenstance…This idea removes the complaints of the intellectuals who ask how is it conceivable that from a single unified G‑d comes different and conflicting things such as good and evil, strict judgment and mercy? The answer is that G‑d is constant concerned about the individual and is always prepared to help. But help is only are relevant for the prepared and purified heart which seeks G‑d and for the person who opens up his heart so that it can accept Providence. Thus judgment and evil are not from G‑d but are inherent in the refusal to prepare one’s heart to receive the good from G‑d. Therefore when G‑d is not in my thoughts and suffusing my heart - bad happens since it is the consequence of not being protected from chance and happenstance. This description is found not only in the Moreh Nevuchim but also in the second section of the Kuzari…
Michtav M’Eliyahu (2:75): Hashgocha protis (individualized Providence) is only relevant for a person on the high spiritual level of serving G‑d without ulterior motivations. In other words a person who uses his free will and deeds to reveal G‑d’s glory in this world. It is called protis (individualized) because the providence is personalized for each person according to his service of G‑d. That is why it is also referred to as hashgocha ishis (personal Providence) by the Rishonim. This process is carried out with great precision according to the person’s deeds in order to give him the necessary means to fulfill his service of G‑d. There are also times when G‑d incapacitates him in order to cause him to contemplate and improve his deeds. Our sages (Yevamos 121b) refer to this accuracy when they say, “G‑d is very particular with His pious ones to the precision of a hair’s breadth.” In contrast hashgocha clallis (general Providence) is for those who don’t serve G‑d at all or serve Him in a mechanical fashion without any inner awareness. Therefore their deeds do not reveal G‑d’s honor in a direct manner. These type of people function simply to provide assistance to the true tzadik in his service of G‑d. They develop the physical aspects of the world to enable the tzadik to serve G‑d. Therefore what these people get in this world does not correspond directly to their deeds. That is because their personal accomplishments have no inherent value. They have merit only to the degree they assist the tzadik. Consequently the Providence for them is not direct and that is why it is referred to as clallis (general). That is because it is possible that the needs of the tzadik require that equal portions be given to many people in spite of individual differences in their deeds. This is the Providence that applies to the nations of the world as well as all those Jews whose main occupation is developing this world. It applies also to those who are occupied in Torah and mitzvos in a superficial manner out of habit or for ulterior motivation…. In fact those who slumber and are relatively insensitive to spiritual issues… i.e., all non‑Jews and most Jews - except for some exception - they are without a doubt under the control of natural laws… This is no different than the animals whose Providence is not for the individual but only for the species - because it as a species they fulfill G‑d’s will.
Berachos (5a) Raba (some say, R. Hisda) says: If a man sees that painful sufferings visit him, let him examine his conduct. For it is said: Let us search and try our ways, and return unto the Lord.21 If he examines and finds nothing [objectionable], let him attribute it to the neglect of the study of the Torah. For it is said: Happy is the man whom Thou chastenest, O Lord, and teachest out of Thy law.22 If he did attribute it [thus], and still did not find [this to be the cause], let him be sure that these are chastenings of love. For it is said: For whom the Lord loveth He correcteth.Shulchan Aruch O.C. 230) One should be accustomed to say: All that God does is for the best!
Berachos (60b)We learned in the mishna: One is obligated to recite a blessing for the bad that befalls him just as he recites a blessing for the good that befalls him. The Gemara asks: What does it mean: One is obligated to recite a blessing for the bad just as for the good? If we say this means that just as one recites a blessing for a positive event with the formula: Who is good and does good, so too one recites a blessing for a calamity with the formula: Who is good and does good, didn’t we learn in our mishna that over good tidings one recites: Who is good and does good, while over bad tidings one recites: Blessed…the true Judge? Rather, Rava said: The mishna’s statement was only necessary to instruct us to accept bad tidings with the same joy with which we accept good tidings, not to instruct with regard to which blessing to recite.Rav Aḥa said in the name of Rabbi Levi: What is the verse that alludes to this? “I will sing of loving-kindness and justice; unto You, O Lord, will I sing praises” (Psalms 101:1). Rav Aḥa explains: If it is loving-kindness, I will sing, and if it is justice, I will sing. I will thank God in song for the bad just as for the good. Rabbi Shmuel bar Naḥmani said: The proof is from here, as it is stated: “In God, I will praise His word; in the Lord, I will praise His word” (Psalms 56:11). The Gemara explains that In God, I will praise His word; that is the revelation of God’s attribute of benevolence, while: In the Lord, I will praise His word; that is the attribute of suffering; even if God brings suffering to bear upon me, I will still praise Him.Rabbi Tanḥum said: The proof is from here, as it is stated: “I will lift up the cup of salvation and call upon the name of the Lord” (Psalms 116:13), and: “I found trouble and sorrow, but I called upon the name of the Lord” (Psalms 116:3–4).And the Rabbis said: The proof is from here, as it is stated: “The Lord has given and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord” (Job 1:21).Rav Huna said that Rav said that Rabbi Meir said; and so it was taught in a baraita in the name of Rabbi Akiva: One must always accustom oneself to say: Everything that God does, He does for the best.
The Gemara relates: Like this incident, when Rabbi Akiva was walking along the road and came to a certain city, he inquired about lodging and they did not give him any. He said: Everything that God does, He does for the best. He went and slept in a field, and he had with him a rooster, a donkey and a candle. A gust of wind came and extinguished the candle; a cat came and ate the rooster; and a lion came and ate the donkey. He said: Everything that God does, He does for the best. That night, an army came and took the city into captivity. It turned out that Rabbi Akiva alone, who was not in the city and had no lit candle, noisy rooster or donkey to give away his location, was saved. He said to them: Didn’t I tell you? Everything that God does,
Taanis (21a) It is related of Nahum of Gamzu that he was blind in both his eyes, his two hands and legs were amputated — and his whole body was covered with boils and he was lying in a dilapidated house on a bed the feet of which were standing in bowls of water in order to prevent the ants from crawling on to him. On one occasion his disciples desired to remove the bed and then clear the things out of the house, but he said to them, My children, first clear out the things [from the house] and then remove my bed for I am confident that so long as I am in the house it will not collapse. They first cleared out the things and then they removed his bed and the house [immediately] collapsed. Thereupon his disciples said to him, Master, since you are wholly righteous, why has all this befallen you? and he replied, I have brought it all upon myself. Once I was journeying on the road and was making for the house of my father-in-law and I had with me three asses, one laden with food, one with drink and one with all kinds of dainties, when a poor man met me and stopped me on the road and said to me, Master, give me something to eat. I replied to him, Wait until I have unloaded something from the ass; I had hardly managed to unload something from the ass when the man died [from hunger]. I then went and laid myself on him and exclaimed, May my eyes which had no pity upon your eyes become blind, may my hands which had no pity upon your hands be cut off, may my legs which had no pity upon your legs be amputated, and my mind was not at rest until I added, may my whole body be covered with boils. Thereupon his pupils exclaimed, ‘Alas! that we see you in such a sore plight’. To this he replied, ‘Woe would it be to me did you not see me in such a sore plight’. Why was he called Nahum of Gamzu? — Because whatever befell him he would declare, This also is for the best. Once the Jews desired to send to the Emperor a gift and after discussing who should go they decided that Nahum of Gamzu should go because he had experienced many miracles. They sent with him a bag full of precious stones and pearls. He went and spent the night in a certain inn and during the night the people in the inn arose and emptied the bag and filled it up with earth. When he discovered this next morning he exclaimed, This also is for the best. When he arrived at his destination and they undid his bag they found that it was full of earth. The king thereupon desired to put them all to death saying, The Jews are mocking me. Nahum then exclaimed, This also is for the best. Whereupon Elijah appeared in the guise of one of them and remarked, Perhaps this is some of the earth of their father Abraham, for when he threw earth [against the enemy] it turned into swords and when [he threw] stubble it changed into arrows, for it is written, His sword maketh them as dust, his bow as the driven stubble. Now there was one province which [the emperor had hitherto] not been able to conquer but when they tried some of this earth [against it] they were able to conquer it. Then they took him [Nahum] to the royal treasury and filled his bag with precious stones and pearls and sent him back with great honour. When on his return journey he again spent the night in the same inn he was asked, What did you take [to the king] that they showed you such great honour? He replied, I brought thither what I had taken from here. [The innkeepers] thereupon razed the inn to the ground and took of the earth to the king and they said to him, The earth that was brought to you belonged to us. They tested it and it was not found to be [effective] and the innkeepers were thereupon put to death.
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