Review of The Tragedy Test by Rabbi Ilana Grinblat
Vice President of Community Engagement for the Southern California Board of Rabbis
Rabbi Agler’s book is both deeply personal and profoundly philosophical. He wrestles with the most profound questions of ‘Why do bad things happen to good people’ in a way that is accessible and comprehensible to all. The book is a treasure trove of wisdom on many different levels. For those who have suffered a life-changing loss, it addresses the question of how to survive and live meaningfully in the aftermath of loss without becoming an additional casualty of the tragedy. The book teaches how to avoid losing God precisely when we need God the most. Often people lose their relationship with God when they suffer a tragic loss because their conceptions of God are inadequate to account for the loss they have suffered. The Tragedy Test teaches how to build on our relationship with God on a true foundation so that it won’t crumble in the face of adversity.
The book also contains a section on what not to say to someone who has suffered a tragedy. I wish that every person would read this section. Often people say things to someone suffering a loss where they mean well but their words are hurtful and untrue and cause additional pain to the bereaved. This book teaches how to speak to those who are grieving so as not to cause them additional pain.
As I read this book, I thought of all the families who I wished I could have given the book to in the past and those who will benefit from reading it in the future. Surely every rabbi should have multiple copies of this book to give to those who are facing tragic loss.
In reading this book, I was reminded of the midrash where the angels are debating whether humanity should be created. In the midrash, the angel of truth is cast down to the ground and truth springs forth from the ground. The Tragedy Test is a collection of truth which springs from Rabbi Agler’s life experiences and tells us painful truths that we all need to hear. In our time when truth is often distorted, this book is refreshing in its honest answers to life’s most difficult questions. The angel of truth would surely be proud of Rabbi Agler and all those who listen to his wisdom.
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