We often have the pleasure to be involved in happy occasions such as preparations for weddings, bar and bat Mitzvah… But sometimes we also face sadder circumstances: we visit people in the hospital or provide help to mourning families.
Last week, we had to deal with a tragedy: a 13 year old German girl passed away suddenly on a Greek island, while vacationing there with her family. We helped them with the legal procedure of transferring her back to Germany for burial, as well as the technicalities. Some wonderful people were part of this effort too: Rabbi Issac Mizan, Izzy Solomon, Samy Vital from the local Chevra Kedosha (burial society), Izzy Tiano and last but not least Michalis Papasavas. May G-d bless them for their kindness.
When faced with such tragedies, children suffering, young people dying, we can’t help but question G-d: Why? Why do You allow such terrible events to happen?
Ultimately, only belief can lead us through these trying times: realizing that G-d’s actions and plan in His infinity cannot always be comprehended by our limited human minds… that’s why he’s G-d after all and we are only humans… That’s why we are here in this world of challenges and of confused messages, where good and bad are intertwined and the truth is not always revealed… We are here to take action and light up this world, spread the good, alleviate suffering as much as we can, and bring the world closer to goodness.
The Rebbe used to say: We have to turn the pain into action and the tears into growth. When we perpetuate the legacy of our loved ones, when we perform good deeds in their memory, when we take on a worthy cause that was dear to them, our loved ones are remembered not only in our memories but also in our actions … Their souls ascend even higher in the heavenly skies for they are the drive behind all these deeds of kindness.
May G-d offer His consolation to the mourning family and may they not know any more sorrow.
Find out what the Rabbi has to say about why good things happen to good people.