Conclusion

Summary

For Christianity the fact of suffering in life means primarily that life is not just, that it is even essentially unjust, that it pays for an essential injustice by suffering, it is blameworthy because it suffers … Saved by that suffering which a little while ago accused it: it must suffer since it is blameworthy.

(Deleuze)

During the Jewish period of mourning over the destruction of the first and second temples – Tishah B'av – it is written in the Siddur that Plato accompanied King Nebuchadnezzar when he destroyed the First Temple. Once the building was in ruins Plato encounters the wailing prophet Jeremiah near the Temple Mount. Aghast that such a preeminent and wise sage should be weeping over a pile of ruins, Plato asks him why on earth he is crying, explaining to him that it is pointless to cry over the past. He goes on to ask Jeremiah what good his tears can possibly do now that the building is just a pile of sticks and stones. Jeremiah answers by exclaiming Plato couldn't possibly understand because this was where he acquired his wisdom. According to Jewish tradition, Jeremiah demonstrates the key attributes of anyone worthy of being a prophet and the lesson drawn from the story is that Jeremiah is neither wallowing in self-pity, nor is he consumed by feelings of injustice or even personal suffering.