Introduction

Summary

At one level it is easy to see why the topics of evil and suffering have been so much discussed in Jewish philosophy. The Jewish people have had a bumpy ride along the historical road and the question of why the innocent suffer arises for most Jews at most times. There have not been many periods during which there has been no persecution of Jews at least somewhere, and it is natural for the objects of the persecution to wonder why they are being subjected to such treatment. This is certainly not to suggest that this is an issue which only occurs in the thinking of Jews. Ever since human beings were able to stand back from the immediate exigencies of their lives and consider why the world is arranged as it is they have asked the questions ‘Why is there evil in the world?’. ‘Why do apparently good people suffer?’ ‘What is the point of suffering?’ Not only do these questions take place on a personal level, but they also occur for groups, and many groups in history have been persecuted for the sole reason that they differed from more powerful or numerous groups, so that it is possible to differentiate at least two versions of the problem of suffering. One problem is to explain why individuals suffer although they are innocent. The other problem is to explain why individuals suffer as result of their membership of particular groups. Neither of these questions is in any way limited to Jews.

Jews have, however, asked themselves these questions frequently for a number of reasons. In the first place, Israel is supposed to be the chosen people of God through whom God's work of redemption will take place in the world.