Jewish Evil
The Uniqueness of the Holocaust
For some theologians, the evils of the Holocaust were unique; others believe they can be integrated into traditional theological discourse.
The Holocaust: Responding to Modern Suffering
The events of the Holocaust put the problem of suffering at the fore of Jewish theological discourse.
Israel as Estranged Wives and Widows
The metaphor of Israel as the wife of God receives several potent and shocking midrashic reinterpretations as the rabbis reflect on Israel's suffering and persecution.
When Bad Things Happen to Good People
Suffering is meaningless unless you decide otherwise.
The Anthropological Implications of Suffering
The rabbis of the talmudic era were more interested in the human response to suffering than in finding theological justifications for its existence.
Berkovits & Cohen: The Free Will Defense
The deviant use of human freedom, not God, is the source of evil and suffering.
The Holocaust as Revelation: Fackenheim & Greenberg
According to some thinkers, the events of the Nazi era initiated changes in the nature of Judaism.
Jewish Answers to Suffering and Evil
If the Torah guarantees rewards to the righteous, why do some righteous people suffer?
Suffering and Evil: Jewish Solutions
If Jews have a special relationship with God, then why is there so much suffering?
Medieval Jewish Responses to Suffering & Evil
The philosophers and mystics of the Middle Ages suggested an array of solutions to the problem of suffering.