Avoth 2:6 CONNECTING THE DOTS

Hillel saw a skull floating in the water. Hillel saw more than a tragedy worthy of empathy. Hillel saw the workings of Providence. Hillel knew things do not just happen.

If someone drowned there is a reason why. Even more, That reason which put the skull in the water is connected with a process. The victim came to such an end because he had drowned others. Hillel further observed that whoever drowned this fellow would be drowned themselves.

Hillel’s teaching taken at face value is challenging. Does Hillel mean that bad things happen only to bad people? Or that human activity is scripted to a degree that absolves humanity from responsibility or accountability? However, notions of D-vine justice, an integral part of Jewish belief become meaningless if choice is removed Yet, the belief that an intimate connection with every aspect of creation is equally a core Jewish value.

The paradox between human choice and D-vine Providence is not as daunting as it appears. Perspective is everything. The human perspective is limited by humanity’s finite nature. therefore, choice is real, no one could honestly say one’s behavior is compelled except under the most extreme circumstances Similarly G-D, who is beyond the confines of time or space has the whole panorama of existence before Him constantly. Only G-D is in a position where justice is true and proportionate. Therefore, an individual may have chosen to drown the person whose skull Hillel saw yet that choice is part of G-D’s elaborate design.

The Chofetz Chaim ZY’A commenting on Bereshit 45:3 explains what overwhelmed Yossef’s brothers when he made his identity known to them was the realization that all that had transpired between them now made sense. The seemingly alogical experience with the Egyptian Va'zir now all came into focus.

Similarly Rashi ZY’A at the end of his comments on BaMidbar 33:1 teaches the recitation of Bene Yisrael’s various encampments while crossing the desert is comparable to a king returning with his now recovering son along the route take when they went for treatment. At each place the king recalls what happened there. The idea is for the son the appreciate the road traveled, to understand how each stop along the way fits in the larger context of their journey.

Lastly the call of the Torah itself in Devarim 30:1 that reflecting on Jewry’s experience throughout history is so compelling that it not just inspire but cause one’s return to faithful allegiance to G-D.

The ability to transcend behind human limitations and obtain a glimpse of the great design allows someone like to Hillel to see the greater context in an event. Hillel saw how this isolated occurrence fit with a whole cycle of events demonstrating that D-vine conern that justice prevail applies even to evil persons as well. Hillel’s perspective teaches that seeing that nothing is random but the result of a carefully thought out reason.