Dearest Reuben

The following is a letter written to our 18 year old son, Reuben, who was fortunate to take a trip this year to Poland. The teachers from Flatbush gave these surprise letters to our children when they visited a mass grave of children who perished in the Holocaust. This was written to offer Reuben comfort at a sad time when the question “why” would easily present itself. 

Dearest Reuben,

Why do bad things happen to good people? It’s one of the most difficult questions in this world. It’s extremely heartbreaking to see the innocent suffer, the holy nation of G-d to endure, and the evil that man in his free choice chooses to impart upon his fellow children of G-d.

Moshe asked Hashem this very same question. “הראני נא את כבודך”. Our rabbis teach us that one opinion of what Moshe is really asking here is for Hashem to explain his ways. In other words… Why do good things happen to bad people and bad things happen to the good?

Hashem responds and says no man can see me and live ,”לא יראני אדם וחי “, I will pass by you and you will see my backside. “‎וראית את אחורי“. What Hashem is really saying here is that man is limited in his understanding. He will never be able to fully see and comprehend His ways.”You can see My Back,” meaning in hindsight when you look back at past events you will get a clear glimpse of why.

When we look back at history, the greatest event that took place in the last 2000 years of galut (exile) for our people was reclaiming our land of Israel, which happened only three short years after the Holocaust. When devastation occurs, celebration follows.  

In Brit Ben Habetarim, Abraham Avinu was told by Hashem, “your children will be strangers in a strange land, and they will suffer.” Hashem continues with a promise to Avraham that he will remember his nation and he will hear their cries and he will save them. After 210 years of slavery in Egypt, Hashem elevated our people to kingship, becoming leaders for the world, safe keepers of His Torah.

It’s true

The pain is real, the evil incomprehensible

What’s also true is

The love is great, and kindness immeasurable

Light always follows darkness.

And through every moment Hashem is with us, setting us up for success, paving the way for us to achieve our greatness.

Hold on to this feeling of sadness for your fellow brothers who were lost to our world too soon, feel the compassion for the lives they u run never got to live.

And honor them, forever, by using your time… the priceless gift that Hashem has given you, to be more, to bring more light into the world, to push away the evil and the darkness that try to cloud Hashem's world and BH we will merit to see the final redemption in our days soon. And when that happens a curtain will be lifted, we will look back and finally, truly see and understand Hashem's way.

Until then we trust fully that Our Father, the creator of the world, runs it perfectly with precision and we have faith that everything in the end is “good” because it’s what Hashem deemed to be fit for us.

Hugs and kisses from afar.

All our love

Mom and Dad