I thank you for your letter which the reader can have a feeling that the words came from the bottom of the heart. But once of all, I must ask you the same question as you intended to ask. Might be that this is not the right moment since Rabbi Malka was so close to you and your family. But I think this IS THE RIGHT MOMENT. As you say in your letter "a good and holy person could die in such a terrible and painful manner defies belief and makes the age old question of how could bad things happen to a good person even more profound." I may add the person who was keeping the commandments (and not like me - חילוני). I think the time has arrived to think deeply and asnwer this kind of question. When I ask my orthodox friends the same question about the Shoa (שואה), their answer is that their forefathers made some big mistakes and therefore the God punished them. Is it the same answer for Rabbi Uriel Malka? Of-course, I do not agree with this answer. Sincerely yours

Sara, Please let me preface by saying that I can't speak for Rabbi Brackman. In our times we do not have prophets; therefore, when tragedies happen to others, whether individuals or entire communities, we have no right to say that they are being punished. We can only say that when something bad happens to us, G-d forbid. Our duty is to grieve over the suffering of others, especially righteous people like Rabbi Malka, assist and comfort their survivors and then emulate their ways.

The entire Denver community sends their most heartfelt condolences to the family of Rabi Malka and the rest of the victims of this fire. Rabi Malka will be dearly missed by all who knew him. He was, indeed, an exemplary human being.

Phil, everyday more and more people have started drawing over from the "belief" that if u do everything what God asks you to, you are quiet safe from occuring tragedies to you. No my dear, I am living in Israel for 35 years, believe me, all the tragedies since then, teach me that there's no one in the sky to help Israel and the Jews, unless we do take care of ourselves. I want to tell you that the GOD is the invention to have discipline in people and therefore, I would like to say loudly THERE'S NO GOD, AND STOP PRAYING FOR HIM, DO WHAT YOU THINK IS GOOD FOR YOU AND YOUR COMMUNITY AND TRY NOT TO HURT ANYONE AND ANYONE'S FEELINGS.

Because the Torah definition of prophets are those that bring the message of תשובה to בני ישראל. If you have never understood the prophets of the תנ''ך then you will certainly misinterpret their students. Netzarim Jew, Abiding by Torah as practiced by the Torah observant Ribi Yehoshua ben Yosef, המשיח

Sara, Nobody ever said that doing everything that G-d asks will prevent all tragedies from occuring. As Jews we have a duty to trust in G-d and keep his Torah while doing everything we can to protect ourselves and help each other. The question of why bad things happen to good people is as old as the world. However much Israel does to protect itself, do you honestly think it could still exist after 62 years if not for G-d? Everyday, more and more people realize that it is a higher power at work which allows us to exist despite the daunting odds against us, not Secular Humanism.