Life They say that the death of a Tzaddik atones for the Jewish people. They say that at some level every Jew is a Tzaddik. A friend's death always hurts. Sylvia's was no exception. It lead me to reflect: First come the questions that cannot be answered, why her, why now? And then questions that can be answered, "Does it matter if we pray for people who are sick? Does G-d hear?" -- Yes. And we still can't quite understand how the greater good causes so much pain. We are left only with faith that it is indeed the greater good, ordained by a G-d of perfection. And there are deeper questions. What was my responsibility in this? What sin did I participate in that helped allow this sickness in the world. What mitzvah did I omit, that delayed the coming of Moshiach and a time when pain such as this will become a distant memory? What can I do now that is better? There is no act which is insignificant. To some degree we are all responsible. It is certain that G-d hears us. Will we choose to hear Him? Shoshana's Page