Jewish Ideas and Beliefs

Most young children have some concept of God. It is important to respond to their questions with sophistication and honesty.

The God of the Hebrew Bible has many names, one of which is never pronounced.

So God is just like you and me, right? Maimonides explains why the Bible's descriptions of God can't be taken literally.

Using language--a human construct--to describe the divine is a precarious matter.

If the Torah guarantees rewards to the righteous, why do some righteous people suffer?

If Jews have a special relationship with God, then why is there so much suffering?

The philosophers and mystics of the Middle Ages suggested an array of solutions to the problem of suffering.

According to the kabbalists, evil is a bi-product of the relationship between humans and the sefirot, God's manifested attributes.

At Sinai, the Israelites pledged their allegiance to God and accepted the punishments that would result if they betrayed God.

If suffering is beneficial, then the existence of evil is not a problem.