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It is not only that this tradition comes to teach us the old platitude that often has truth with it that in every cloud there is somehow a silver lining. It teaches us something far deeper than that, namely that the ways of the Lord and therefore the vagaries of life are inscrutable, unpredictable and not given always to rational explanation and analysis. The Lord wants us to somehow inherit Canaanite treasure. But it is not given to us directly, clearly, simply. Rather it somehow comes through initial pain and disappointment, the apparent destruction of our house and the shame of being found residing in a dwelling of spiritual impurity. Only then when one has to pass through this series of difficulties - consultations with kohein, quarantine of the house and finally its dismemberment - does the apparent purpose and gift of God to the inhabitant of the house become apparent. We would all certainly prefer being granted hidden treasure and other good fortune be given to us directly and clearly. But that is not the reality of life. Many times in our lives we suffer disappointments and trials and only later are we able to realize how much true good fortune came to us through those seemingly unpleasant events. That is why the rabbis admonished us to make a blessing on seemingly bad events in the same manner that we make a blessing when we feel that good things have happened to us. For many times the "bad" event may turn out not to be so bad after all and therefore in life we are always bidden to accept what the Lord has granted to us.
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Various Events FOR WHOM NOT TO VOTE
Rav Zvi Yehuda Kook stressed that Israeli politics is G-dly, so I have no problem answering this common question on a Torani blog. Also, Free-Will is a G-d-given right and obligation, to "destine one's fate" (R. Soloveichik, Kol Dodi Dofek, 67), so I obviously don't tell others how to vote. But once not a few (especially young) have already asked, a couple of personal words from experience and thoughts from chazal & Rav Kook which may be of help to others, mainly for whom NOT to vote.
P'ninat Mishpat Fallout from Failure to Install Elevator – part II
based on ruling 85007 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts
