A discussion of God and evil in Jewish tradition. www.esynagogue.org www.rabbireflects.blogspot.com www.ehnt.org www.jonathanginsburg.net Rabbi Jonathan Ginsburg, Rabbi of the Ezra-Habonim, Niles Township Jewish Congregation of Skokie, is a native of Chicago.

Video Transcription

Shalom, my name is Rabbi Jonathan Ginsburg, senior rabbi of Ezra-Habonim, Niles Township Jewish Congregation in Skokie. This video is trying to examine the question of evil and where is god. There you often, when we have conversations about god, one of the questions that inevitably come off is what about the holy cross? In other words, if there really is a god, happy god from the holy cross and to make that question even tougher, the former chief Rabbi of Israel recently said that the reason for the holy cross was a liberalization of European jewelry, other words, god was mad at Jews and so punished them by sending Hitler to kill them and that theology is present in the bible in the book of judges but I clearly reject it. I think it is obscene in the fence of the savior and that chief rabbi. I am embarrassed about what he said and completely distance myself and I think most of the Jews from that horrible idea, the god will permit the mass murder of millions of Jews and the million and a half children because he was upset about Jews intermarrying or Jews eating pork, it is ridiculous. So that, what is the cause of evil in the world? First of all, the obvious answer is the human free will. We believe completely that people have a choice in life which is right and wrong and amenities clarifies that in the code of Jewish law and the law of repentance. Everybody can decide whether they are going to be murderers or love their neighbors as themselves that the prophet Isaiah says “I looked down and saw a justice and wondered why there was no one to intervene”. God wants us to fight in the side of righteousness and gave us the torah, otherwise, why would you need the torah if people did not have free will? Why would you have god bothering to give us ideas about right and wrong? That is the great sage, Dhaas Manidis, by Manidis cousin, says that the old commandments have one or two purposes either to make us better people, would have teach us compassion and clearly the Nazis are the egregious example, horrible, pernicious example of good choices not taken in bad choices taken. You had many tragedies in Jewish history, suffering throughout the centuries, we have always responded towards the same way without blaming guide, without guide, but saying that the float lies with the evil people that committed it and turn into god for strength and support and comfort and guidance. We do not believe god is dead, we do not believe god does not exist, we believe firmly the god who created the universe, who loves little people has a special role for the Jewish people as allied to the nations and the contrary not punishing us but very much in wanting us to follow gods ways knowing that the world is a dangerous place. Right now for example, the president of Iran says he wants to commit another holy cross even though we deny the first one, wanted to destroy Israel. And so many of the Hamhas television shows for children, the Mickey mouse look alike teaches about how offal Jews are and loves to kill Jews. The world is full of evil and a match of it directed against Jews but we are not blaming god for that. On the contrary, we know that god will strengthen us and support us along with those who love god and know god it make good choices in the world, it is that we can all live in the world of harmony and piece. We pray for piece and we teach our children piece and not horror and murder and blood. And so I hope that helps explained, I think much more sensible to you and completely rejecting this offensive view of former chief Rabbi of Israel, blaming the holy cross and Jews because they did not keep closure enough or, did not follow the torah enough. Sure I want Jews to live jewishly but to blame Jews for the murderers is completely offensive and totally rejected.