Date: Sun, 7 May 2000 21:41:31 -0400 (EDT)
From: Russell Hendel <  rhendel@mcs.drexel.edu>
Subject: Re: Embracing the Torah

QUESTION:
Isn't it true that Judaism does not emphasize reward and punishment
Isn't it true that the important thing is performance of commandments
and not an emphasis on the spiritual world?

ANSWER:
Actually we should mention the explicit verse Jer 16:11 "They have deserted
me AND forsaken my commandments" The Talmud wryly notes "If only when
deserting G-d they don't desert the commandments". In other words there is
a view that if people don't believe in G-d but do the commandments then
there is the potential that they may come back to belief in G-d

Russell Jay Hendel; Phd ASA; RHendel@Towson.Edu
Moderator Rashi is Simple, http://www.shamash.org/rashi/