Thank you for answering this difficult question. The tefila “unesaneh tokef” also uses the phrase “shelo b’kitzo” — who will die before his time? When I was in Chevron where there is a memorial to my daughter A”H, the guide pointed out that she passed away before her time. Later he apologized to me for using this phrase, but your explanation resolves the issue. Warmly, Zalman Dovid (a grateful talmid of your father in Morristown)

By Heavenly “logic” souls leave the world at the behest of Heaven.

Here on earth, for a wife and children to lose their husband/father at an age earlier than one would expect IS “too early.”

Until we have the geulah sheleimah, here on earth there will still be a sense of loss about someone’s passing, and a sense that it was “too early” if it was indeed earlier than the usual norm.

Of course we should always remember that Hashem’s “logic” prevails, and this is the “explanation.” But it does not take away the sense of loss; it is only a way to come to the point of accepting the fact that there is heavenly “logic” to the loss (“logic” that we here on earth in galus cannot possibly fathom) — but not making that loss acceptABLE.

“Too early” is certainly a valid thing to say and think on this earth, as long as one does not invalidate Hashem in the process.

You should never have to walk in the shoes of one who has lost a loved one “too early,” please Hashem. It is truly OK to grieve, as long as it does not become inappropriately excessive long after the fact. Saying “too early,” in this case, is not excessive at all!

So please remember the distinction above.

I hope this will assuage your feeling “bothered” by the phrase you mention above.

I thoughly enjoyed the article, but this line bothered me. One leaves the world at the precise appropriate time. Especially tzaddikim, who leave once their mission on Earth is accomplished.