Freedom of Choice

Hello esteemed Rabbi, Why are abnormally evil people, who spread evil, created? And why must others suffer because of them? For example: A bandit kills an innocent person, and as a result, the bandit continues to live as if nothing happened, without punishment in this world, and the victim cannot be brought back. Will the victim receive a reward after such a death? Sincerely, Oleksandr

Shalom!

Thank you for your question.

The Almighty did not create evil people. He created each person with the freedom of choice — to do good or evil in their life. Unfortunately, many indeed choose the path of evil.

Although the Almighty desires only good, He does not interfere with our decisions. If a person, for example, jumps from a high tower, they will die — regardless of whether God wanted it or not, so to speak. And so it is with everything: we have free will and freedom of choice.

When a villain commits murder, it is, of course, one of the most severe and low forms of evil. The victim will be judged for their actions, like everyone else. The mere fact that a person was murdered does not itself grant them a reward in the World to Come, except in the case where they were killed solely because they were Jewish. This is called “Al Kidush Hashem” — dying for the sanctification of the Name of the Almighty.

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