Suffering may seem like an inevitable fact of Jewish life, but the way a person deals with it is a measure of his character. Rabbi Wein examines the hardships faced by the heroes of Tanach and the adversity the Jews continue to bear in this long, bitter exile. But amidst all the dangers of the past and present, one looms the largest. If we forget that our suffering exists for a purpose, if we do not recognize that good will arise from our pain, we miss the point entirely. This far-reaching historical overview puts the theological question of suffering into proper perspective and makes it clear that all our current sacrifices are ultimately worthwhile.