Asking For A Friend - Timely Issues. Timeless Torah.
Asking For A Friend - Timely Issues. Timeless Torah.
Kehillas Federation
#13: Nisyonos (I): Why Are Some Lives Harder Than Others? - with Rabbi Zimmerman
55 minutes Posted May 24, 2026 at 6:30 pm.
— Intro and episode topic: Nisyonas (suffering/tests)
— Three categories of hardship introduced: Aynish, Tafkid, Nisyonas
— Discussion on how to discern type of hardship; common default = punishment
— Purposes of Nisyonas: reward, reveal potential, show faith to others (Akedah example)
— Physical vs. spiritual tests; hardest are choices between two good options
— Prioritizing long-term mitzvah “investments” (learning with children, shalom bayit)
— Role of tefilah: praise, gratitude, requests; different views on effects of prayer
— Emotional processing of seemingly unanswered prayers; “not yet” and stored credit ideas
— Why some suffer more: gilgulim, tikkun, soul capacities; tailored tests
— Importance of community/support vs. suffering alone
— Free will vs. divine foreknowledge: different frameworks and implications
— Human cruelty within divine orchestration and moral accountability
— Closing and preview of Part Two
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Show notes
In Part One of this two part series on Nisyonos, we explore one of life’s biggest questions: why does Hashem test people? Together they discuss whether all suffering is considered a nisayon, why some people appear to face greater hardships than others, the struggle of unanswered tefillos, and why bitachon can feel strong in some areas of life yet weak in others. A thoughtful and honest conversation on faith, struggle and spiritual growth. 
 
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