1. Where is God?
The Theology of Tragedy in the
Book of Lamentations
By Dan Friedman

2. Chapter One: We Suffer
• Was it something we did?
–
– - -
– -
–
• But just look at us!
– -
–

3. Chapter One (Part Two):
Cruel and Unusual Punishment
• For He is a vengeful God
–
– -
– -
• But He is also a righteous God
–
– - -
– -
- -

4. Chapter One
• How do we reconcile suffering with the
existence of an omnibenevolent God?
– We suffer if we sin
– All suffering is the direct result of sin
• But suffering is insufferable!
– The agony of Jerusalem of great; how great must
have been our iniquity?
– There is no justice!
– There is no comfort…

5. Chapter Two
• Hashem has carried out His plan
–-
--
–( )
• We must cry!
–-
- --
– -
-

6. Chapter Two
• The reason for suffering is perfectly evident
– Hashem punishes sin in a ruthless, calculated,
devastating way
• But we cry to Hashem nonetheless
– We cry because suffering is great and always
emotionally incomprehensible
– We cry to appeal to God’s Infinite Mercy
– We cry because only through crying will the
suffering end

7. Chapter Three
• The man suffers greatly and despairs
– -
–
• But the man understands
–
– -
– -
– -

8. Chapter Four
• The Perek reassesses the tragedy with new
understanding
– - -
– -
-
– -- - -
- -

9. Chapter Five
• A message to God
–- -
–
–
–
– - -
• God has brought tragedy, and tragedy is
terrible, but now, the understanding
sufferers would like to be taken back

10. Conclusion
• All tragedy is Divine Retribution
• It seems unjust: Why do our aggressors go free?
– Our aggressors are not the concern right now
– We must consider our sins and ask for deliverance
– Our aggressors…their time will come
• Tragedy is tragic, there’s no two ways about it
• But tragedy has a purpose; it must be
recognized as punishment