Q&A: Life Expectancy and God's Involvement in the World
Life Expectancy and God's Involvement in the World
Question
Hello.
Life expectancy in Israel is significantly relatively high, as stated here:
The most significant explanation given for this, as stated there, is the extensive military conscription, which contributes to fitness levels.
But on the other hand, within the State of Israel itself, among the medium-sized cities, those with the highest life expectancy are Modi'in Illit, Bnei Brak, Beitar Illit, Beit Shemesh, and Jerusalem. They are not wealthy, there is no especially high awareness there of health needs, and people there do not do much sports.
Wouldn't it make sense to say here, "so that your days and the days of your children may be multiplied," etc., and "if you walk in My statutes," etc. (despite your well-known views about the style of religious observance in the above-mentioned cities)?
Doesn't searching for explanation upon explanation and distinction upon distinction in order to explain this sin against common sense?
Thanks in advance
Answer
No. It sins against crooked sense.
First, to assume that life expectancy is determined by one parameter is very far from common sense. Even if fitness and military service (including mortality in combat and in accidents?) cause an increase in life expectancy, there are other important parameters. You mentioned some of them (proper nutrition, access to good healthcare, and the like). But there are others: a sense of comfort and security in the community, calm stemming from trust in God and confidence in spiritual leaders, and so on. These latter parameters exist in the Haredi world at a high level (and there is also health hysteria there—just "effort," of course—which definitely exists there), and they certainly could be the reasons for the high life expectancy there. Whoever wants to conclude that there is some other factor here, the burden of proof is on him. One could, for example, examine life expectancy among the Hardal public, or among fundamentalist Christians or Buddhists under the same environmental conditions, in order to see whether these parameters really have an effect or not, and to what extent. That's my common sense; I don't know about yours.