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Wednesday, July 19, 2006

Theodicy on the March...or Not?

Shmarya points out this case of theodicy from an article in the JPost:
Safed Chief Rabbi Shmuel Eliyahu called the Hizbullah offensive a direct result of disengagement.

"The logical outcome of our desertion first from Lebanon then from Gaza and Northern Samaria is what is going on right now," said Eliyahu.

Kiryat Shmona Rabbi Tzfania Drori echoed his colleagues' sentiments, saying the present situation is punishment for the "disengagement folly."
I actually think, though, that the one example of theodicy presented in the article shows that the kind of tit-for-tat mentality about God's ways that was so prevalent at times of other disasters is not becoming quite as entrenched as I'd expected (and feared). Rabbi Eliyahu's words are not really theodicy, as they can be interpreted to mean that the disengagement was a poor strategic move - a statement that I think many people are agreeing with in these dark days. So though I still detest the kind of talk that we hear from Rabbi Drori here, and will continue to rail on any similar examples as I see them, I think that perhaps, despite attempts by some people, "War Theodicy" isn't catching on quite as well as they would hope.

For now.

8 Comments:

Blogger Looking Forward said...

when will they stop blaiming their problems on stupid things and realize that the dissengagement wasn't a sin, it was a patch for the exact same thing that the rockets are a patch for. (what ever that is but my suspicion is it's the same thing we're regularly patched for. lack of ahavas yisroel)

6:37 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

The comments quoted do not indicate an issue of theodicy.

6:39 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

The comments quoted do not indicate an issue of theodicy.

Huh? He said that the bombings are a "punishment" for disengagement. How is that not theodicy?

7:09 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

FYI-

theodicy does not mean "god does bad things as punishment for other bad things"

This would simply be a possible explanation under theodicy.

You stating your contempt for theodicy because of statements of rabbis is like saying you dislike economics because you dont agree with Keynes, or hate movies because you saw a single movie you didnt like.

7:20 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Theres a nut in every jar, but there are 2 in Tzfat and Kiryat Shemonah.

7:20 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

On a somewhat unrelated note:
OM or other posters - is Ezer L'Shabbos a legit charity? Someone suggested it in one of your posts yesterday. I want to give to a charity to help those in need in Tzfat, but I googled it and found nothing at all. Anyone know their deal? Or would anyone care to recommend another place to give tzedaka for families in northern Israel?

Thanks!

7:44 PM  
Blogger orthomom said...


You stating your contempt for theodicy because of statements of rabbis is like saying you dislike economics because you dont agree with Keynes, or hate movies because you saw a single movie you didnt like.


Where did I say I had "contempt for theodicy"? I said I detest the kind of talk we see here - that the war is retribution for specific actions that the Rabbi is somehow privy to. We are not omniscient as to God's ways.

8:17 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

the present situation is punishment for the "disengagement folly."

Reminds me of something I heard once, about how getting a job is a good segula for parnasa...

8:29 PM  

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