Q&A: The Blessing "Who Caused You to Die in Judgment" and the Resurrection of the Dead
The Blessing "Who Caused You to Die in Judgment" and the Resurrection of the Dead
Question
Hello Rabbi,
A. How can one recite the blessing "Who caused you to die in judgment" in a cemetery, when מדובר in soldiers killed in war / murder victims, about whom it is said, "there are those swept away without justice," especially in light of the Rabbi's approach?
B. How does the Rabbi relate to the Talmudic passage about "one who says that the resurrection of the dead is not from the Torah"?
Thank you!
Answer
A. Indeed, it's problematic. But that is a difficulty on the Talmud and on Rabbeinu Hananel, not on me. One can still recite it and intend that death is rooted in the laws of nature and in the freedom of choice given to human beings—and that is the judgment. Judgment means law.
B. I didn't understand the question.
Discussion on Answer
What can I say about that? There is no authority regarding facts. The homiletic interpretations are not very convincing ("you are about to lie with your fathers and rise," for example), especially since this is aggadic exposition. I don't have a firm position on the matter, but the textual hints are quite weak. We find statements that are not to be interpreted literally, and were said only to reinforce the idea. For example, among the medieval authorities (Rishonim) there are explanations of statements that something is a law given to Moses at Sinai, saying that this was stated only to strengthen it, while in fact it is a rabbinic law.
I understood that the Rabbi holds that the resurrection of the dead cannot be derived from the verses, since they are open to multiple interpretations. According to the Talmud, there is a problem with someone who holds that view. How does the Rabbi relate to that? Maybe I didn't understand correctly?