When there is a global epidemic and a feeling that despite all the capabilities of the technological world, we are helpless against a tiny virus, man turns to the world-moving force, to God, to seek the cause.
What is the reason for Corona? Can we know the reason? Should you even look for it?
Rabbi Solovichik in his essay "Kol Dodi Dofek", talks about "Man of Destiny" vs. "Man of Fate". When suffering, The Man of Fate asks: "Why?". But the Man of Destiny asks: "What for?", "What can we learn from this?". The Man of Fate turns to God and asks for an answer he can't get. The Man of Destiny turns to himself and asks what he should do in order to learn and grow from his difficult situation.
The Man of Destiny knows that suffering is something that you can gain from and therefore it is something you can miss out on. He sees the agony as something that can promote him, something he can grow from.
We do not have to look for the cause and we cannot know it because we do not know the ways of God in our world.
The Man of Destiny looks at the new reality, delves into it and thinks how to internalize its spiritual conclusions.
The Corona forces us to make a stop from the usual race of life and gather inside our homes, forcing us to emphasize on the really important things. How you can be content with much less, how you do not have to chase after shopping and accomplishments, how much happiness and comfort you have with yourself, investing in your home and the people close to you.
"When pain wanders in the wide world as a blind force without purpose, a stinging indictment of the man who squanders his suffering issues forth. How pitiful if man’s sufferings do not bring him to a spiritual crisis.
We do not wonder about the ineffable ways of the Holy One, but instead ponder the paths man must take when evil leaps up at him. We ask not about the reason for evil and its purpose, but rather about its rectification and uplifting. How should a man react in a time of distress? " (Rabbi Solovichik in his essay "Kol Dodi Dofek")
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