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From: Russell Hendel <rhendel@saber.towson.edu> Date: Tue, 26 Oct 1999 18:58:47 -0400 (EDT) Subject: RE: The distinction between TRUST and BLIND FAITH Yasher Coach to Binyomin (v29n90) for bringing up the above distinction. Binyomin asks for comments. I had the privelege of hearing Rabbi Dr Soloveitchick (the Rav) for 7 years. We learned Chumash and Rashi for many of those 7 years. On the verse in Lech Lechah YOU HAVE MUCH SACHAR which God spoke to Abraham the Rav made the following comment about SACAR VONESH. SACAR implies the right to legally demand (Several other suggestions from the audience about why SACAR was used to denote the reward we get in the next world included comments on whether the individual deserved it but the Rav said that if the individual did not deserve it you wouldn't be giving it to him) Thus the difference between the Christian REWARD and PUNISHMENT vs the Jewish SACAR VONESH is that Judaism emphasizes the CONTRACTUAL nature of the relationship between man and God. If we really have done the Mitzvoth then we have a right to demand our SACAR (not out REWARD but our WAGES). The above idea ties in with the idea of TRUST vs BLIND FAITH. To use the Rav's language it is not that we TRUST God but that we have a CONTRACT with him. There is a big difference between a handyman that is reliable and one you have entered into contract with. I believe this point of the Rav on the difference between the Christian concept of REWARD and our concept of SACAR=WAGES should be better known. Russell Hendel; Phd ASA; RJHEndel@Juno.Com Moderator Rashi Is Simple http://www.shamash.org/rashi/