subject: Earthquakes: A Lesson in Humility [print this page] Earthquakes: A Lesson in Humility Earthquakes: A Lesson in Humility
The Yerushalmi (Berachot 9:2) teaches: Elijah [the prophet] of blessed memory asked Rabbi Nehorai, "Why do earthquakes occur?" He said to him, "On account of the sins of [those who do not separate] heave offerings and tithes from their produce."
One verse says, "God protects the Land of Israel, the eyes of the Lord your God are always upon it (Deut. 11:12)." And a second verse says, "[God] Who looks upon the earth and it trembles, who touches the mountains and they smoke (Psalms 104:32)."
How can one reconcile these two verses? When Israel obeys God's will and properly separates tithes then, "The eyes of the Lord your God are always upon it, from the beginning of the year to the end of the year (Deut. 11:12)," and the Land cannot be damaged. But when Israel does not obey God's will, and does not properly separate tithes [from the produce of the earth], then He, "Looks upon the earth and it trembles"
Elijah said to him Rabbi Nehorai, "My son, on your life, what you say [about earthquakes] does make sense. But this is the main reason that there are earthquakes: When the Holy One, Blessed is He, looks down on the theaters and circuses that sit secure, serene and peaceful [in Israel], and [he looks down] on the ruins of the Temple, he shakes the world to destroy it [and the earth trembles]. In this regard [the verse says], The Lord will roar from on high, and from his holy habitation utter Jis voice' [Jeremiah 25:30]. [It means He will roar] on account of [the destruction of] his Temple."
Said Rabbi Acha, "[The earth quakes] on account of the sin of homosexual acts. God said, You made your genitals throb in an unnatural act. By your life, I shall shake the earth on account of [the act of] this person.'"
And the Sages said, "[The earth quivers] on account of disputes. [As it says, And the valley of my mountains shall be stopped up, for the valley of the mountains shall touch the side of it;] and you shall flee as you fled from the earthquake in the days of Uzziah king of Judah' [Zech. 14:5]." [Uzziah contested the authority of the priesthood and attempted to enter the Temple and offer an incense offering, (II Chron. 26:16 23). This dispute caused an earthquake.
Said Rabbi Shmuel, "An earthquake is a sign of the cessation of kingship. As it says, The land trembles and writhes in pain.' On what account? For the Lord's purposes against Babylon stand, to make the land of Babylon a desolation, without inhabitant.' [Jeremiah 51:29]."
Elijah does not begin by teaching but by asking. He wants to know how people are responding to a tragedy. I don't believe that the rabbis are speaking authoritatively, claiming that their reason is the one for the earthquake. They are simply describing their reaction what happened.
I'm spending all this time writing about the great party of Achashveirosh. I wonder what would have happened if during his six month party there was an earthquake and a tsunami such is the one that happened today in Japan. The party, obviously, would have ended. Achashveirosh would not have had any future as King. He may have been a great warrior but there was nothing he could do in the face of such a tragedy. Such things make us feel vulnerable. I believe that it is the sense of vulnerability that is the most important lesson.
People who speak authoritatively on God's behalf declaring that they are certain of the reason for a tragedy, speak without the sense of vulnerability. They are not hearing the real lesson of an earthquake. We are vulnerable. No matter how powerful, how advanced, how sophisticated, how wise, how modern we are, we are as vulnerable to the same forces of nature that threatened our ancestors 2000 years.
