theodicy

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Eikha Chapter 2
Part 4
Dr. Yael Ziegler | 51 minutes
While Perek Alef is characterized by the deafening silence at the aftermath of the churban, Perek Bet takes a retrospective look at the horror of the churban as it unfolded. Like the first chapter, Chapter two is divided into two halves - but this time, the part representing collective Jerusalem has difficulty admitting any sense of culpability; instead, there is a sense of an accusation against God.
Eikha: Chapter Three (Part B)
Part 6
Dr. Yael Ziegler | 50 minutes
This second part of Chapter Three traces the development of the individual as he re-discovers and re-connects with himself, his community, and his God. There is a transition from “I” to “we”. Although his situation itself doesn't change, the individual is changed. He finds purpose again, and sees himself as part of destiny instead of merely fate.
Eikha Chapter 5
Part 8
Dr. Yael Ziegler | 41 minutes
This shiur analyzes Chapter Five and summarizes the significance of the structural and theological implications of the entire book. The peripheral chapters reflect an approach of examining sins. The inner chapters portray the suffering of the innocent. The central chapter grapples with living in a world we cannot understand, stating that there is a greater purpose, and that God is not capricious. Chapter Five shows more hope and progress, as the grieving community seeks a renewed relationship with God.
Haazinu: Who Takes the Blame?
Rabbi Menachem Leibtag | 32 minutes
This shiur focuses on the song in Parashat Haazinu; beginning by looking at the prelude to Haazinu. Understanding Haazinu - a response to the question of why bad things happen communally - helps us to appreciate the purpose of Neviim Rishonim, especially Sefer Yehoshua and its message of how we must take initiative and follow God's laws in order to benefit from God's conditional covenantal promises.
This Nation Will Rise Up [audio]
Rabbi Yair Kahn | 13 minutes
Near the end of Moshe's life, God tells Moshe that coming generations will stray after deities of other nations. What is the source of Moshe's inner strength after his preventative attempts have apparently failed? Moshe has religious humility—and recognizes our inability to fully comprehend the Divine plan. Cognizant of the power of free will, still in his role as teacher, he warns the people as another preventative measure.
The Prince and the Prison (Audio)
Rabbi Chanoch Waxman | 24 minutes
Yosef finds favour while he is a slave in Egypt - in Potiphar’s house, and in jail. The text emphasizes again and again how God is helping Yosef. But if this is so, why does God bring Yosef continually downward? What is the meaning and message of Yosef’s descent?
Is God a Judge, an Enemy, or a Source of Faith?
Rabbi Alex Israel
תאריך פרסום: תשע"ב | | Hour and 10 minutes
Our aim is to look into the heart of the collection of laments in the book of Eikha and to seek Hashem. We embark on a daring study wherein we ask: Where is God in the midst of the terrible suffering of the destruction of Jerusalem? We compare the first three chapters of Eikha, and look at the kinna recited on the night of Tisha b'Av. We discover that God is personified in different ways. Each personification acts as another layer in the depiction of God’s involvement in the Hurban.
Parshat Vaetchanan - Shema Yisrael
Rabbi Alex Israel | 35 minutes
Parashat Vaethanan is filled with well-known passages, including the Ten Commandments and the Shema. Reciting the Shema is seen as fulfilling the mitzvah of accepting the Yoke of Heaven. This shiur is devoted to developing a deeper appreciation of the first verse of Shema. Though only six words, it is a difficult text. We raise questions and examine the readings of various classical commentators, exploring historical, theological and philosophical readings which enrich our experience of this famous and meaningful declaration.
Yaakov wanted to Dwell in Peace
Rabbi Ezra Bick | 10 minutes
A famous comment of Rashi cites a phrase of Hazal which said that Yaakov wanted to live in peace, but immediately suffered hardship of the troubles of Yosef. What are Hazal trying to say, and what was yYaakov thinking? Did he want to retire? If so, was that a reason to suffer? Is the Torah against tzaddikim living in prosperity?
The Elusive Iyov
Rabbi Yitzchak Etshalom | Hour and 6 minutes
What is the goal of Sefer Iyov? What is the historical context? Did Iyov actually exist, or is the book allegorical? An examination of the various answers to these questions leads us to entertain many different ideas as to the purpose of Sefer Iyov, both as a particularly Jewish text but also as a universal one, presenting universal challenges and solutions.
Eikha: Theology and Human Suffering (Part II)
Shiur #06
Dr. Yael Ziegler
Eikha’s presentation of this complexity produces a jarring but magnificent portrait of humans who struggle mightily to balance fidelity to God with recognition of a cruel and unjust world. To the extent that Eikha provides a theodicy, we can discern it in the literary artistry of the book. Eikha incorporates numerous linguistic parallels to Devarim 28, a chapter commonly termed a “tokhacha,” which establishes a covenant between God and His nation.

By entwining expressions from the covenant into Eikha’s literary construct, the book imposes responsibility upon Israel for these events, in her failure to uphold her end of the bargain.
Eikha: Theology and Human Suffering (Part I)
Shiur #05
Dr. Yael Ziegler
Eikha views God in a variety of ways, at times going so far as to depict God as either indifferent or hostile to Israel – even as Israel’s enemy. Before examining Eikha’s view of God, we must ask: To what extent does Jewish tradition regard such extreme depictions as legitimate? After all, is not reverence a prerequisite for and a central element of the relationship with God? And if so, does reverence preclude the ability to react negatively to God’s deeds, to question bitterly God’s inscrutable designs?