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Jews who believe that Reward and Punishment are only based on Torah Study

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edu:
The Following is the Soncino Translation to part of tractate Shabbat page 13b.
It is an example, of Religious Jews who do not understand why they suffer, because they view Divine reward and punishment, only as a function of how much Torah one learns.
[It is taught in the]
Tanna debe Eliyahu: It once happened that a certain scholar who had studied much Bible and Mishnah and had served scholars much, yet died in middle age. His wife took his tefillin and carried them about in the synagogues and schoolhouses and complained to them, It is written in the Torah, for that is thy life, and the length of thy days: my husband, who read [Bible], learned [Mishnah], and served scholars much, why did he die in middle age? and no man could answer her.
On one occasion I was a guest at her house, and she related the whole story to me. Said I to her, ‘My daughter! how was he to thee in thy days of menstruation?’ ‘G-d forbid!’ she rejoined; ‘he did not touch me even with his little finger.’
‘And how was he to thee in thy days of white [garments]?’
‘He ate with me, drank with me and slept with me in bodily contact, and it did not occur to him to do other.’
Said I to her, ‘Blessed be the Omnipresent for slaying him, that He did not pay careful attention to preserve the Torah {Here I slightly differed from the Soncino Translation}! For lo! the Torah hath said, And thou shalt not approach unto a woman as long as she is impure by her uncleanness.

Lisa:
What did he mean by "thy days of white garments?"

And isn't that a harsh thing to say about a dead man that he deserved to die?

Tag-MehirTzedek:

--- Quote from: Lisa on April 24, 2012, 10:02:13 AM ---What did he mean by "thy days of white garments?"

And isn't that a harsh thing to say about a dead man that he deserved to die?

--- End quote ---

 I believe it is talking about the clean days that a women has to count (usually 7) after her period, and then immersing in the Mikwah.
 
- I think it was trying to make a point of why he died and answering her complaint.

edu:
Quote from Lisa

--- Quote ---And isn't that a harsh thing to say about a dead man that he deserved to die?
--- End quote ---
I am not raising this point to argue with the answer of Tag-MahirTzedek to the question, rather I wanted to see what prominent rabbis have said about Lisa's question.
So far the only answer I have found with the help of the Bar Ilan Responsa project
is from Nishmat Chaim, siman 106
In his view, the reason Eliyahu said to the woman,  ‘Blessed be the Omnipresent for slaying him', it was to praise G-d and fulfill the Biblical verse Mishlei {Proverbs}11:10 "When the wicked perish, there is rejoicement".

Lisa:
Thanks for your response. 

But it still sounds harsh.  I mean, I associate wickedness to being either a murderer, rapist or an adulterer.  How am I wrong here?

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