Jewish Theories on Suffering

Two Approaches to Jewish Suffering
There are two main explanations the biblical and Rabbinical texts take towards the notion of suffering. One approach is to claim that God is just and his reason for suffering can be explained. The other approach is to be hurt, angered, and confused by the suffering, which is given by the hand of God. Both of these explanations are defined in Anti/Theodic: Bible and Midrash, a work by Zachary Braitman. The first approach he calls “theodocy” and the second approach “antitheodicy”. Classical Jewish explanations of suffering swings back and forth between these two approaches.
The Jewish theodicy approach can be seen in the doctrine of reward and punishment. This doctrine comes from Deuteronomy when God says to Israel:
If, then you obey the commandments that I enjoin upon you this day, loving the Lord your God and serving him with all your heart and soul, I will grant the rain for your land in season, the early rain and the late. You shall ga...