Q&A: May God Avenge His Blood
May God Avenge His Blood
Question
When we proclaim and declare, “May God avenge his blood,” does that in some way exempt us from taking revenge ourselves, and with all our might? At any rate, that does seem to be the impression one gets from this expression. After all, even when we pray for healing or for a livelihood, we are still permitted—and obligated—to make efforts to be healed or to earn a living.
Answer
It does not exempt us, because there is nothing from which to exempt us. We are under no obligation to take revenge. And the comparison to praying for healing is baseless for two reasons: 1. In fact, there too there is no point in praying (that is my view, and this is not the place for it). 2. Even if one accepts the thesis of personal effort (hishtadlut) (the absurd one), that does not mean there is an obligation to make an effort when it comes to revenge. Why did you decide they should be compared in this respect as well?
Discussion on Answer
The veto comes from the prohibition, “Do not take revenge and do not bear a grudge,” not from folk sayings. To be sure, there are halakhic parameters regarding revenge, and the whole topic of revenge is quite complex. But it has nothing whatsoever to do with this or that saying. I discussed revenge in Column 596.
I’m afraid the main point got lost, perhaps because of the term I used, “exempt.” Let me rephrase: does the statement “May God avenge his blood” somehow place a veto on our desire to take revenge ourselves, with our own hands? That was the purpose of the comparison to praying for healing and for a livelihood. Your position regarding the usefulness of prayer is well known.