How Do We Deal with Evil? (part 2)
In Menachot 29 Moshe is shown two things: Rebbe Akiva expounding on the crowns on the letters and his torturous death at the hands of the Romans. Moshe asks Hashem 2 questions: If Rebbe Akiva is able to make such drashot why isn't the Torah given through him? Why Rebbe Akiva is destined to die in such a way (זו תורה וזו שכרה)? The answer is the same: כך עלתה במחשבה לפני! What is the difference between these two answers which use the same words but clearly don't have the same meaning?
We are meant to ask difficult questions but at the end of the day we have to accept the fact that we can't understand the ways of God.
When the Gemara (Brachot 5) says that if a person is suffering but the suffering doesn't affect his learning he/she they are ייסורים של אהבה. Despite their suffering they are still able to connect to God.
Delivered at the OU Israel Center, May 23rd, 2019 (Lag BaOmer 5779)