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Conservative Judaism/Death, suffering and evil

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Expert: - 3/12/2004


Question
I am a 16 year old catholic highschool student in Australia and i am learning about Judaism in studies of religion. There is a question i can't seem to find any answer to...
What is Judaism's answer to why there is death, suffering and evil in the world?
It would be greatly appreciated if you could help me asap. Thankyou.  

Answer
Dear Amanda,

Thanks for writing, but we don't answer questions or write materials for student assignments on principle. This is a research opportunity for students.

If you will look into the Encyclopedia Judaica under the topics of "death," "suffering" or "evil" you will find information to direct your writing. This encyclopedia is available in virtually every library here in the states. If you run into trouble finding one let me know, please.

In addition, on-line there is jewishencyclopedia.com.

The best book you might find in your library would be the "Death of Death" by Dr. Neil Gillman.

Here are useful web sites that may be of assistance. Good luck.

Rabbi Dov

http://shamash.org/trb/judaism.html


http://shamash.org/lists/scj-faq/HTML/


http://www.jewishencyclopedia.com/index.jsp


http://www.maven.co.il/


http://www.machers.com/directory/Jewish_Search_Engines/


http://www.arhs.net/Society/ReligionandSpirituality/Judaism/


http://www.uscj.org/metny/bellmobj/jnet2.htm


http://www.jewfaq.org/


www.MyJewishLearning.com


http://uahc.org/torah/genesis.shtml


http://shamash3.shamash.org/tanach/dvar.shtml


http://www.us-israel.org/jsource/index.html


http://www.ccel.org/


http://www.loc.gov/z3950/gateway.html


http://www.libraryspot.com/


http://sunsite.berkeley.edu/Libweb/


http://dir.yahoo.com/Reference/Libraries/


http://www.freeality.com/libraries.htm


http://fossick.com/eText.htm


http://www.jlaw.com/


http://www.toldot.org


http://www.forward.com/issues/2003/03.08.08/education5.html


http://www.uscj.org


www.ujc.org/njps

Conservative Judaism

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Rabbi Barry Dov Lerner

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Write to me with questions about Jewish customs and law, history, philosophy and tradition for answers from a Conservative perspective or conversion. I am a graduate of The Jewish Theological Seminary and a member of the Conservative Rabbinical Assembly. Having served in congregational pulpits since 1970, I now am President of the Foundation For Family Education, Inc. a non-profit educational endeavor. I established it to create new formats of hands-on programs and provide free educational downloads at www.jewishfreeware.org. In addition to general informational questions I welcome your questions about programs for social action, outreach to dual-faith families, inter-faith clergy projects, healing services, education for conversion, adult education for the congregation and the community. If you have questions about Informal and Formal Education I am ready to share my extensive experience with Youth Activities, Camping and Religious School/Hebrew High School on a congregational, community and national/international level.

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I have served on the National Youth Commission for more than 25 years and serve on the Boards of the Conservative Zionist movement MERCAZ and the World Council of Synagogues. I have always dual-families and taught candidates for conversion with a great sense of fulfillment. I am very proud of 25 years on the Jewish camping staff of Camps Ramah. My greatest source of pride is my family! Ask me about them, please!:-)

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