Chastisements of Love and the Blessing of Suffering in Torah

Midrash Tanchuma Buber, Miketz 16:1

Curated by Arthur·Translated by Maggid (Beta)·

[(Genesis 43:14:) "And may God Almighty grant you mercy."] This is what Scripture says (Psalms 94:12): "Blessed is the man whom You chastise, O LORD, and whom You teach from Your Torah." What is the meaning of "Blessed is the man"? Rabbi Yehoshua said: If chastisements have come upon you, and you were able to occupy yourself with Torah, they are chastisements of love; but if you were not able to occupy yourself with Torah, they are chastisements of rebellion. "Blessed is the man whom You chastise, O LORD, and whom You teach from Your Torah." Rabbi Bisna said: There is no person in the world who does not come to suffering. Thus a person who suffers in his eye cannot sleep, and one who suffers in his tooth cannot sleep, but rather he is awake the whole night; and a person who is awake the whole night and occupies himself with Torah — this one is awake and that one is awake. Hence: Happy is the man whose sufferings are in Torah.

Themes

SufferingTorahDivine JusticeLoveMusic

Biblical References

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