A Frustrated Reader's Hurricane Sandy Theodicy

Upset with haredi rabbis claiming that God sent Hurricane Sandy because of gay marriage or abortion or the US policy toward Israeli settlements, a reader sent in the following hurricane aftermath photos with a brief note…

The Satmar yeshiva in Sea Gate, Brooklyn, after Hurricane Sandy

The disgusted reader's message, referring to the photos posted above, reads, "That's god's message to stop MBP [metzitzah b'peh], and all that's wrong with yeshivohs."

It does make some twisted sense, especially when you realize that Hurricane Sandy's damage was done by very strong winds that blew ocean water past the beaches and into the city proper, and which blew down power lines, trees and upturned cars as it blew out windows, ripped off roofs, and even destroyed houses.

I mean, the operative words here are "blew" and "blow," and we all know what MBP looks like to most people – an act commonly known as a "blow job."

As sick and bizarre as this analogy is, it makes as much sense as anything claimed by haredi rabbis like Yehuda Levin and Amnon Yitzhak.

That demonstrates the foolishness of theodicy – and the foolishness of those haredi rabbis who feel the need to practice it.

Comments

[Korben Dallas]

Just stop listening to fucking hatbeards. They're spiritual terrorists who are about to get what's coming to them.

[Korben Dallas]

Just stop listening to fucking hatbeards. They're spiritual terrorists who are about to get what's coming to them.

[Korben Dallas]

Sorry for the double post.

[SkepticalYid]

Makes me wonder if there's a market for T-Shirts saying "I was blown by Sandy," or "Sandy blew my lights out."

[Steven W]

@ Skeptical

http://www.zazzle.com/blown_by_hurricane_sandy_tee_shirts-235653992741239047

$18.95

[soso]

I thought theodicy was the "death of God", i.e. not believing in God after a catastrophy (why does a good god let bad things happen?)

[Sarek]

Don't worry, I'm sure they'll come up with some illogical Talmudic reason this happened.

[Shoshi]

Theodicy = "defense of God's goodness and omnipotence in view of the existence of evil"

[jancsbacsi]

We badly need a rebbe who disavows all the nonsence that the other rebbeh spew out and tell the rest to shut up or else they will be commited into a lunatic asylem for the mentally challenged.

[Fleishike Kishke]

Why does your God destroy Shuls and Torah books to show his displeasure at gay marriage and abortion?

[Yosef ben Matitya]

actually, it really make sense that sandy is a reward for mbp, messianic heresy and other idiotic things. like in the story of yonah all were about to drown with along with yonah until they threw him out of the ship!

[seymour]

Nothing new stupid things religious people say

[think for a change]

"That demonstrates the foolishness of theodicy – and the foolishness of those haredi rabbis who feel the need to practice it."

And your post demonstrates what kind of warped and perverted mind you have to come up such a connection. There are other ways to connect it to MBP, but your choice shows us your real disgusting colors.

[Maskil]

Wait ... what? God went after the yeshivas and the shuls?

אוי לרשע ואוי לשכנו

[Joe D.]

Actually, Hurricane Sandy was God's revenge for Walter O'Malley moving the Brooklyn Dodgers -- along with Sandy Koufax -- to L.A.

[Yochanan Lavie]

YBM: Remember, Yonah was swallowed by a whale!

[Jeff]

We badly need a rebbe who disavows all the nonsence that the other rebbeh spew out and tell the rest to shut up or else they will be commited into a lunatic asylem for the mentally challenged.

God, I wish there were a rabbi with that kind of power.

Of course, we'd have to build a whole new system of facilities to house them - there appear to be that many of them.

[Yerachmiel Lopin]

When will these catastrophe mayvinim adopt scientific standards. Like explain why the punishment for gays should fall most heavily on areas closest to the ocean. Better yet, let them predict where god will strike with precision.

Any yutz can come up with post hoc explanations.

[rebeljew]

More support for the MBP interpretation. Recall that regarding Hurricane Katrina, the theodicy was that KAT in Katrina was connected with KAT for Gush Katif. Thus, Katrina was punishment for Bush supporting Sharon on Gaza evacuation.

Therefore, SAN in Sandy relates to SAN in Sandek, the person who holds the baby at a bris. What more proof is needed before the fools will open their eyes and see the revealed will of HKBH.

[R. Wisler]

What a blessing from God Himself! In his wrath toward that evil sect, their center of idolatry and blasphemy in Seagate was destroyed! May God bless us with the destruction of ALL of their filthy institutions!