Berachos 5a § 4
Rebuking the One He Loves
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Both these and those (even tribulations that cause neglect of Torah study and prayer)
are considered "afflictions of love".
For God rebukes the one He loves.
But then what does Scriputre teach by stating:
Fortunate is the man whom God afflicts
and whom you teach from Your Torah,
which implies that such afflictions do not prevent a person from studying Torah?
Do not read this as it is written selam'denu (You teach them)
rather, read it as though it were written selam'deinu (You teach us)
The verse thus means: You taught us this matter
(namely that "Fortunate is the man whom God afflicts") from Your Torah...
Through a kal vachomer based on the law of the tooth or eye of a Canaaniteslave.
Now, if the loss of a tooth or eye, which is only one of the limbs of a person,
a slave goes free on account of it, then afflictions, which purge a person's entire body,
all the more so should a person be freed (i.e. from sin) on account of them.
are considered "afflictions of love".
For God rebukes the one He loves.
But then what does Scriputre teach by stating:
Fortunate is the man whom God afflicts
and whom you teach from Your Torah,
which implies that such afflictions do not prevent a person from studying Torah?
Do not read this as it is written selam'denu (You teach them)
rather, read it as though it were written selam'deinu (You teach us)
The verse thus means: You taught us this matter
(namely that "Fortunate is the man whom God afflicts") from Your Torah...
Through a kal vachomer based on the law of the tooth or eye of a Canaaniteslave.
Now, if the loss of a tooth or eye, which is only one of the limbs of a person,
a slave goes free on account of it, then afflictions, which purge a person's entire body,
all the more so should a person be freed (i.e. from sin) on account of them.