By Rabbi Lana Zilberman Soloway

 

How many times in your life have you wondered: Why do bad things happen to good people? How can even the most righteous individuals face life’s greatest hardships? What role does God play in our lives during these moments? And how can we hold on to our faith when faced with unimaginable challenges? These are some of the questions we will be asking ourselves as we read the book of Job (Eyov) together. 

Job is the story of a man transformed. His deep piety and faith were forged during a time of wealth and happiness. Then, in a single moment, it was all taken away. Can a man who is pious in prosperity remain steadfast when stripped of everything? Job was a blameless, upright man who feared God and turned away from evil. His suffering did not come because he was bad – so, why then?

Bad things do happen to good people. This is the truth of life. 

One lesson from Job teaches us that, even in suffering, we must never lose hope or our faith in God. Perhaps the emotional events of this past week remind us of this lesson. After 471 days of captivity in inhumane conditions, three young Jewish Israeli women—Emily Damari, Romi Gonen, and Doron Steinbecher—were released, returning home to their families, their country, and their people. We never lost hope. We never lost faith. God willing, we will witness the same moving and beautiful reunion of the remaining 94 hostages with their loved ones. Until this happens, we will continue to hope and believe that the day of their liberation is approaching soon.

Join me in Exploring the Book of Job (Eyov), one of the most profound and challenging books of the Tanakh, the Hebrew Bible. Together, we will delve into the timeless questions it raises about suffering, faith, the nature of justice and receive timeless lessons to be used in our lives.

The Book of Job confronts some of life’s greatest mysteries:

• Why do the righteous suffer?
• What is the role of faith in times of hardship?
• How can we find meaning and strength in the face of adversity?

These themes resonate deeply with our Jewish values, inviting us to reflect on our relationship with God, our understanding of human struggles, and the ways we can respond to life’s trials with resilience and compassion. Through our study, we’ll explore lessons that are as relevant today as they were in ancient times:

• The Power of Emunah (Faith)
• The Role of Kehilah (Community)
• Finding Mashmaut (Meaning) in Suffering
• The Mystery of (Din) Divine Justice

Together, we will uncover the wisdom of this ancient text and its relevance to our lives today.

When: 7 Friday mornings, 11am – 12:30pm PST, beginning this Friday, January 24 

Where: in-person at Congregation Or Ami & on Zoom

Can’t wait to embark on this journey with YOU.