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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/