Disclaimer: The opinions expressed here are that of the writer and do not necessarily represent the views of the Union for Traditional Judaism, unless otherwise indicated.
Some Rabbinic Concepts of Evil with Rabbi Wayne Allen
Recorded August 1, 2023 at a meeting of MORASHAH, the rabbinic fellowship of UTJ
Babylonian Talmud Berakhot 7a discussion of theodicy including “מִפְּנֵי מָה יֵשׁ צַדִּיק וְטוֹב לוֹ, וְיֵשׁ צַדִּיק וְרַע לוֹ, יֵשׁ רָשָׁע וְטוֹב לוֹ, וְיֵשׁ רָשָׁע וְרַע לוֹ? Why is there a righteous person for whom good things happen, a righteous person for whom bad things happen, a wicked person for whom good things happen, and a wicked person for whom bad things happen.”
Pirkei Avot4:15 Rabbi Yanai says we can’t explain the suffering of the righteous or the prospering of the wicked.
Babylonian Talmud Bava Metziah 87b Rabbi Elazar learns from Abraham that the righteous say little and do much while the wicked say much and don’t do anything.
Babylonian Talmud Berakhot 61b Rabbi Yose the Galilean says that צַדִּיקִים יֵצֶר טוֹב שׁוֹפְטָן… רְשָׁעִים יֵצֶר רַע שׁוֹפְטָן the good inclination rules over the righteous, the bad inclination rules over the wicked.
Babylonian Talmud Kiddushin 4a Rava explains Isaiah 3:11’s reference to “the evil wicked one” by saying that one who is evil toward heaven and toward people is a wicked evil person, but one who is wicked toward heaven but not evil toward people is not wicked (scroll up for another observation of Rava based on Isaiah 3:11).
Bereshit Rabbah 34:10 הָרְשָׁעִים הֵן בִּרְשׁוּת לִבָּן …אֲבָל הַצַּדִּיקִים לִבָּן בִּרְשׁוּתָן The wicked are ruled by their passions while the righteous ruled over their passions.
Babylonian Talmud Menahot 29b Moses, waiting to receive the Torah, learns of Rabbi Akiva and Rabbi Akiva’s fate. God alone knows of the reasons for the suffering of the rightesous.
Babylonian Talmud Berakhot 5b (mentioned by Rabbi Price in discussion, scroll up for further context) discussion of יִסּוּרִין שֶׁל אַהֲבָה suffering due to God’s love, which Rabbi Yohanan states that he neither appreciates the suffering nor the reward for the suffering.
UTJ relies on your support to promote an open-minded approach to Torah rooted in classical sources and informed by modern scholarship. Please consider making a generous donation to support our efforts.
After being graduated from New York University with a B.A. in philosophy and Phi Beta Kappa, Rabbi Allen attended the Jewish Theological Seminary of America where he earned a Masters degree in Rabbinics and went on to receive rabbinic ordination. He served as a congregational rabbi for 35 years, taking on postings in New York City, Los Angeles, and Toronto. The Jewish Theological Seminary conferred an honorary Doctor of Divinity upon him for his years of dedicated service. Rabbi Allen was awarded a Masters degree in Philosophy from York University in Toronto where went on to earn his Ph.D.
He has taught Jews and non-Jews of all ages in formal and informal settings including the American Jewish University, the University of Waterloo, the Community Hebrew Academy of Toronto, and Camp Ramah in California. Along with Harvey Haber he wrote Giving Thanks: Graces for All Occasions. Among his interests has been Jewish Law. As the author of Perspectives on Jewish Law and Contemporary Issues and Further Perspectives on Jewish Law and Contemporary Issues as well as editor of the first two volumes of Tomeikh keHalakhah, the responsa collection of the Union for Traditional Judaism, Rabbi Allen gained recognition as an authority on the application of Jewish legal principles in a modern context. He was a frequent panelist for Jewish Values On-line and has appeared on radio and television. Other interests include cantorial music – leading to the publication of his book on The Cantor: From Mishnah to Modernity – and mediating Judaism to inquiring minds, resulting in his book Prescription for an Ailing World.
Samples of Rabbi Allen’s teaching are accessible on his website, www.rabbiwayneallen.ca.
Rabbi Allen's published books, available from the UTJ Bookstore are:
