Parshat Ekev: Removing illnesses from Israel

But we are human, and make mistakes. While I shun saying that lack of observance is the cause for calamity (an absurd thought!), Torah does suggest that the imperfection of Jews leads to imperfections in the existence of the Jewish People.

The inverse, of course, is true as well. When you fulfill G-d’s will and follow His ways, “You’ll be blessed above all nations. There will not be an infertile male or female among you or your animals. G-d will remove from you all illness, and all the maladies you had in Egypt He will not place upon you, but He will place them on your enemies.” (7:14-15)

With so much pain and suffering in the world, one wonders what this means.

Haven’t there been so many tzadikkim (righteous people) who have suffered? Can’t we all think of individuals who didn’t deserve the illness that they suffered through for so many years, or the illness that ultimately stole their lives away?

One answer is that even the greatest tzaddik or tzadeket will call himself or herself a sinner, and probably cry more on Yom Kippur than the rest of us. Humans can work to become amazing people. But perfect, with no flaws whatsoever, meriting this blessing from G-d? It seems to be impossible.

Which leaves me with two questions. How can this promise be made, if our end of the deal is impossible to uphold? And, is there another way to understand G-d’s promise of “removing all illness?”