In recognizing the direct role of God in reality, including the pandemic the world is presently facing, there is an initial issue which must be addressed before all others. That is the simple fact that such acknowledgement of Divine involvement in a pandemic such as this inherently challenges, in various ways, our very understanding of God. This is the case with all tragedies which humanity may face and does face -- how can we reconcile the existence of such human pain with the Existence of a Benevolent God? The recognition that God is also Just provides some explanation for such circumstances -- as God must punish evil -- but then we are, almost necessarily, left with trying to explain the justice of God's ways which even Moshe Rabbeinu could not understand. The simple reality is that the acceptance of God as the Source for a pandemic such as this one challenges our very recognition and understanding of God. It is thus easier for individuals to approach such circumstances without a consideration of a Divine basis. It is not just coincidental that any mention of God in times like these is often met with critique and disdain.
Part of a further reason for this is actually the way that religion is often portrayed, specifically in defiance of reason and thought. In cases such as the one we are presently experiencing, any mention of God is often perceived to be associated with a call to ignore reason -- and, thus, science and medicine -- and trust in faith alone as the way to overcome this adversity. This perceived call of faith is thus seen as calling upon one to act as one believes the spiritual call demands albeit that such behaviour is challenged by reason. It almost seems that the perceived purpose of religion, for many, is simply for the human being to declare a faith in his/her deity notwithstanding the circumstance. For many, as such, the call of religion within such circumstances as these is to act as one would perceive the religion would demand notwithstanding that such behaviour is contradictory to the reasoned and thoughtful instructions of those with knowledge of the matter. This is the way of many who declare themselves believers and religious -- to demonstrate their belief in their deity by acting absurdly. The call of faith is specifically understood to be a call to reject reason.
The deity, as such, is deemed to create these situations in order to test us by calling upon us to act contrary to the call of secular, reasoned initiatives. To so many within religion, this pandemic can then be explained as simply a challenge of faith. The difficult questions regarding God noted above can thereby be avoided. The proposed explanation for this pandemic is thus that the deity is simply testing us by calling upon us to show our faith albeit that it contradicts reason. The answer of the religious person is thus, so often, to proceed as normal. The deity will protect if one demonstrates faith. Is it no wonder why any mention of religion in the context of this pandemic can be met with disdain?
While I cannot state that this approach to religion is absolutely not found within the parameters of the Jewish world, it is in no way a substantial view within Torah. (It may be of interest to determine how this general view from religion entered the realm of Torah – but that is for a different presentation.) It is clear from the very essence of Torah that Hashem patently demands of the human being to think and, as such, it is ludicrous to perceive God as calling upon us to simply reject manifest reason. The reality of this pandemic must, as such, be approached with thought. This is, no doubt, the call of the Divine. The challenges to human thought when confronting such a reality must then, however, necessarily further re-emerge with all their difficulties. It is for us to strive to understand although we may never gain a full and/or true insight in this regard especially given that we are inherently restricted by our own limitations. This introduction of God into the discussion, however, inherently presents its own difficulties.
These challenges of life we are again being forced to face in a most dramatic fashion due to this pandemic include, of course, those most difficult questions, mentioned above, regarding the nature of God. There is obviously much Torah on this subject but the reality we face with our present circumstances makes the matter much more real. We are truly being called upon to think about God -- and we need to respond. We must not ignore, however, that there are other issues we must also clearly consider. In that human reasoning may truly find some insights in this regard, it may even be of greater necessity to investigate such questions. Another category of inquiry, for example, we must consider is how this pandemic is affecting humanity, in so many diverse ways, demanding of us thereby to often act differently. Accepting that the pandemic is an intentional act of God further requires of us to recognize that such changes -- at least, in possibility -- are part of the Divine intention. The question of why is thus most real.
Through these changes in existence that we are experiencing, indeed, what are we to learn? For example, on a religious level, if Jews are now being called upon not to form minyanim, what are we to learn from God essentially having created a situation which bars us from forming minyanim? Such questions which emerge from the reality of this pandemic do not only arise within the religious realm. Look at how we personally, socially, nationally and globally are acting differently. What is God's intent? We will continue this investigation in our next post.
Rabbi Ben Hecht
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