While I have always appreciated Dr. Alfred Neugut’s “Thoughts on Cancer” column, last week’s column was particularly personal to me, and I’m certain to many readers (“Why Me?” April 4, 2024). While Dr. Neugut is sometimes too technical, always informative and sometimes even hysterically humorous, this column, “Why Me,” was metaphysical and touched on the age-old religious question, why do the righteous suffer.
I would like to add to his thoughtful, sensitive and consoling column. The Midrash (Kohelet Rabbah 3:9) records that the wife of Rabbi Mana died. His colleague, Rabbi Avin, came to pay a condolence call. Asked Rabbi Mana, “Are there any words of Torah you would like to offer us in our time of grief?” Rabbi Avin replied, “At times like this the Torah itself takes refuge in silence!”
Thank you, Dr. Neugut!
