3 replies to this topic

[AYidOnTheWayUp]

Chazal say everything happens because of Klal Yisroel including natural disasters..can you explain that in light of the fact that science has very clear reasons why storms and earthquakes happen as they are naturally explained phenomena?

[Rabbi Shapiro]

I'm not sure I understand the question. Let's say just for the sake of the argument that Hurricane Sandy came because the Jews violated Mitzvah XYZ. Are you saying that the scientists can claim it would have happened had the Jews not violated that Mitzvah? Certainly not. Please explain.

[AYidOnTheWayUp]

What I mean is Hashem made Teva, so lets say if XYZ happens there will be a hurricane, if ABC happens there will be an earthquake. There are all natural reasons to explain every "natural disaster." So the scientists would say, there was an earthquake because the tectonic plates rubbed each other, and the rubbed each other because some other reason...meaning Hashem created Teva with physical cause and effect. So is the understanding that when Hashem made Teva he put into it all the disasters and when they would occur with all the natural build ups to them, because Hashem knew before creating the world that in year 5773 X aveiros will occur that will warrant such a storm?
Basically I dont get how to understand the whole thing.

[taon]

IS the chain of cause and effect really that untouchable? Yes, you can always find a cause for why X happened as it did, but a seperate chain reaction could have caused another effect.