5 replies to this topic

[Rabbi Shapiro]

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[shaya]

Ahron Hakohen.when his 2 sons died he could have found plenty of reasons by kllal yisroel on why they died. and yet what did he do? Vayidom Ahron.

shouldn't we do the same instead of finding blame on others? if every individual wants to do something for themselves to be better is one thing but all those coming out and saying this and that is the reason? shouldnt it be the gudol hador who says it, can every jo shmo decide I KNOW?

[Rabbi Shapiro]

Ahron Hakohen.when his 2 sons died he could have found plenty of reasons by kllal yisroel on why they died. and yet what did he do? Vayidom Ahron.

shouldn't we do the same instead of finding blame on others? if every individual wants to do something for themselves to be better is one thing but all those coming out and saying this and that is the reason? shouldnt it be the gudol hador who says it, can every jo shmo decide I KNOW?

Well, first, Vayidom Aaron does not mean he didn't identify a reason. it means he didn't complain. He did not question. In fact, Chazal gave reasons for the death of Aaron's sons and it's unreasonable that Aaron didn't know what Chazal knew. Aaron's silence means he didn't question the Gezar Din. It does not mean he did not understand it.

Also, you are contradicting yourself because Aaron was a Godol HaDor which you yourself said can decide they know.

That having been said, the average Joe Shmoe knows nothing about anything. There are ways to determine why Tzoros happen, and you don't need Nevuah. That is because we are not looking to read Hashem's mind, rather, we are looking to read His message. When Tzoros happen, it is a message from Hashem. A message that cannot be deciphered by the recipient is a failure on the part of the sender, and Hashem does not fail. That is why Gedolim throughout the generations have always worked on identifying the reasons for Tzoros that have happened to Klall Yisroel, even way after Nevuah was gone.We can know these things from theTorah. In fact, the Divrei Yoel proves that, presented with the option of identifying the sin responsible for a tragedy using Torah knowledge or identifying it using the Urim Vetumin, we would rather use Torah knowledge (see Yevamos 73b). Torah interpretation, by a qualified interpreter, is a better source of information than Nevuah. Chacham adif menavi.

Hashem sending us Tzoros is like a father slapping his son in the face. For the son to say "I am sure my father has a reason for what he did but I have no idea what it is," will likely just get the son another, harder slap. His father wants him to get the message. Refusal to acknowledge the message is a chutzpah.

Of course, to understand Hashem's message you need to understand the language in which He speaks. And He speaks a particular language. The language of Midah Kneged MIdah; the language of Torah. So no, not every Tom, Dick and Harry in the street is capable of understanding what Hashem is saying. Although when Chazal said Im yesurim baim alav yefashfesh bemaasav, they were not only talking to Gedolei HaDor, still, if someone cannot understand Hashem's message that is contained in a Tosfos, he can forget about understanding Hashem's message contained in wordly events.

Some Rabbonim cannot handle a question about a Milchige dish that was washed with a fleishige sponge. Some can, but they can't handle a shailah involving Siamese twins. Some Talmidei chachamim are experts in technological shailos, some are experts in medical shailos, some are experts in business shailos, some are experts in theological shailos. Not everybody knows everything. That's even if they are Talmidei Chachamim.

You should expect Joe Shmoes, however, to go around saying they do know. It happens all the time that Joe Shmoes express Torah opinions that they know nothing about. Halachos, Hashkofos, opinions about Gedolei Yisroel or whatever - you name it. It happens every day. People talk. That doesn't mean they're qualified to do so. Do not think that this issue is any different.

Don't ask me why this tragedy happened. I myself am unable to tell you the reason. But big deal. I cannot tell you Mesechta Shabbos shakleh vetaryah baal peh, either. I simply do not know. You will have to ask someone else. There are a lot of things I do not know. That does not mean they are not knowable. To understand the reason for a tragedy you need to be able to find the answer using the Torah as a guide. So no, not every Joe Shmoe can do it. That applies to this as well as other Torah issues as well.

[shaya]

i gather from your answer that i dont have to accept their opinion why it happened, but rather il be a better jew for myself and not act like i know. thats for sure hashem wants us to be better, and there might be several reasons why something happens to pin point it to something specific, well maybe he is not wrong cuz it might be included in the several reasons but it doesnt mean he should voice it cus i can say its because people speak loshon hora and il be right (most likely)

[Rabbi Shapiro]

i gather from your answer that i dont have to accept their opinion why it happened, but rather il be a better jew for myself and not act like i know. thats for sure hashem wants us to be better, and there might be several reasons why something happens to pin point it to something specific, well maybe he is not wrong cuz it might be included in the several reasons but it doesnt mean he should voice it cus i can say its because people speak loshon hora and il be right (most likely)

Depends whose opinion it is and what it is based on. Joe Shmoe's opinion you should ignore, regarding this and all other issues.

Yes, Hashem wants us to be better and we need to take this as a wake-up call. No question about that.

It is very possible there are multiple reasons, but to identify any of them you need to use Torah guidelines. You can't just pull something out of your hat. And again, the opinions of Joe Shmoe should be ignored.

[shaya]

כי הנה מרע״ה
מסר התורה לחכמים ולא רצה הקב״ה שתהיה נמסרת לנביאים. הלא תראה
מה שנאמר בפרק הזהב בענין רבי אליעזר הגדול עם חכמים שיצתה בת קול ואמרה
מה לכם אצל רבי אליעזר שהלכה כמותו בכל מקום ועמד רבי יהושע על רגליו
ואמר לא בשמים היא. אמר רבי ירמיה כבר נתנה לנו תורה על הר סיני. וכתוב
בה אחרי רבים להטות ושם אמרו שנמנו חכמים על זה וברכוהו. וכן אמרו במסכת
תמורה שבימי אבלו של משה נשתכחו שלש מאות הלכות ואמרו ליהושע שאל ואמר
לא בשמים היא. הנה ביארו שאין הנביא מתעסק בביאור התורה בנבואתו.

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