The earthquake in Southeast Asia and the horrors it brought upon millions of people made all of mankind tremble, as well. Our sages ordained a special blessing for earthquakes, which they called in Hebrew zeva'ot, literally, "horrors": "Blessed is He whose power and might fill the earth." (Berachot 24) This is interpreted to mean: "Blessed is He who bestows power upon nature, thereby displaying the power of the Creator of the universe, so that mankind will revere Him." (see Mishnah Berurah, Orach Chaim 227:1)
We must understand reality on two levels: morally, and in terms of nature and causality. Understanding earthquakes the latter way means understanding that there is movement in the earth's crust. We see and understand what are the earthquake's horrifying results. We must learn and understand how to deal with earthquakes and their repercussions, so as to prevent future damage, etc. Yet, within this causal understanding, there is also understanding based on morality and ethics.
As our sages said: "Why do earthquakes occur? When G-d remembers His children who are suffering.... He sheds tears into the Great Sea and His voice is heard from one end of the earth to the other.... Some say He is clapping His hands together. Others say He is moaning...." (see Berachot 49a)
Our sages understood that earthquakes are an expression of pain in Heaven over the pain of Israel. Seemingly, we can ask: what connection is there between what occurs beneath the crust of the earth in Southeast Asia, or anywhere else on earth, and the plight of Israel? How is it possible to connect Israel's plight to the forces of nature, and to the plight of the rest of the nations? In response, Rabbi Yehuda HaLevi teaches us: "Israel amongst the nations is like the heart amongst the organs of the body." (Kuzari II:36) Just as the heart influences the whole body and is influenced by the whole body, so does Israel influence the world and the nations and is influenced, in turn, by what occurs in the world and amongst mankind.
Today, the earthquake and its horrors have to arouse, all of us, whoever we are, to rectify our deeds and character, to be sensitive to the plight and the suffering of those around us, and to assist them.
At the same time, we and all the nations must take stock of how we relate to the People and Land of Israel. After all, Israel is the heart of the nations and the heart of the world. If the heart is damaged, all will suffer. We have to repent in relation to our people and our land. We have to love and to attach ourselves to them.
Through the Jewish People and Eretz Yisrael, G-d's goodness is revealed in the world, and through that, in turn, sorrow and sadness shall end. Then, we will see with our own eyes how "the earth and the fullness thereof belong to G-d, the world and all its inhabitants." (Psalm 24:1)
We must understand reality on two levels: morally, and in terms of nature and causality. Understanding earthquakes the latter way means understanding that there is movement in the earth's crust. We see and understand what are the earthquake's horrifying results. We must learn and understand how to deal with earthquakes and their repercussions, so as to prevent future damage, etc. Yet, within this causal understanding, there is also understanding based on morality and ethics.
As our sages said: "Why do earthquakes occur? When G-d remembers His children who are suffering.... He sheds tears into the Great Sea and His voice is heard from one end of the earth to the other.... Some say He is clapping His hands together. Others say He is moaning...." (see Berachot 49a)
Our sages understood that earthquakes are an expression of pain in Heaven over the pain of Israel. Seemingly, we can ask: what connection is there between what occurs beneath the crust of the earth in Southeast Asia, or anywhere else on earth, and the plight of Israel? How is it possible to connect Israel's plight to the forces of nature, and to the plight of the rest of the nations? In response, Rabbi Yehuda HaLevi teaches us: "Israel amongst the nations is like the heart amongst the organs of the body." (Kuzari II:36) Just as the heart influences the whole body and is influenced by the whole body, so does Israel influence the world and the nations and is influenced, in turn, by what occurs in the world and amongst mankind.
Today, the earthquake and its horrors have to arouse, all of us, whoever we are, to rectify our deeds and character, to be sensitive to the plight and the suffering of those around us, and to assist them.
At the same time, we and all the nations must take stock of how we relate to the People and Land of Israel. After all, Israel is the heart of the nations and the heart of the world. If the heart is damaged, all will suffer. We have to repent in relation to our people and our land. We have to love and to attach ourselves to them.
Through the Jewish People and Eretz Yisrael, G-d's goodness is revealed in the world, and through that, in turn, sorrow and sadness shall end. Then, we will see with our own eyes how "the earth and the fullness thereof belong to G-d, the world and all its inhabitants." (Psalm 24:1)