Q&A: Is G-d being "kind" if He's working toward a specific end goal?

  

Q. Why do we think of the State of Israel as a kindness that G-d performed for us, when actually He did it for Himself, for the purpose of the Redemption process? The same is true for all kindnesses that He does – after all, He created the world for an ultimate purpose, and everything that happens leads to that goal. If a person is healthy and has a happy family, this is because G-d determined that this was best for that person and for the world. So where is the kindness here? If all things are done for a reason, why do we refer to them as kindnesses?

A. Yes, everything leads to a certain purpose; nothing happens for nothing. But, the path to the goal can be long, torturous, and painful, or it can be short and easy. Our Sages teach that the Redemption will either take place at its pre-set time (b'itah), or will be rushed up to an earlier date (achishena), depending on the spiritual state of the Nation of Israel. If rushed up, it will be a kindness on the part of G-d. 

Of course, when G-d judges and activates His system of reward and punishment, we know that He is interacting with us, not necessarily in a kindly manner – but when we experience His providence as something positive, then this is a kindness. For instance, the horrific Shoah was no kindness, though it was part of the difficult process of rebuilding the nation and the establishment of the State of Israel – but the formation of the state itself was a great kindness, because we saw clearly G-d's miracles to this end. 

As such, we pray that we merit to truly see and feel G-d's kindnesses that He performs for us.

Answered by Rav Haggai Lerer, yeshiva.co

Translated and edited by Hillel Fendel