Dear Rabbi
What punishment can my parents face for neglecting me for decades? What punishment can my cousin face for treating me with extreme cruelty and indecency and thus ruining my life? I would love to see justice and the people responsible for ruining my life pay a price for what they have done to me. Thank you for replying.
Anonymous
Dear Anonymous
Thank you for your question.
Without meaning to diminish the severity of the mistreatment and neglect to which you refer, I still say that your quest for retribution is not beneficial. More constructive would be the hope for an apology and genuine efforts to make amends.
We are best advised to leave punishment to the Heavenly Court. Also, remember that some forms of Divine justice may not be apparent to the onlooker, or sometimes even to the “convict” him/herself. Who can say if they have not been punished already in ways you cannot tell?
More fruitful would be to seek the help of a rabbi, social worker or therapist (or perhaps all three) who can help you work through the suffering you have endured and help you chart a course for the future.
Wishing you fulfilment and achievement in all you do,
Sincerely
Rabbi Rashi Simon