Q&A: Divine Providence
Originally published:
This is an English translation (via GPT-5.4). Read the original Hebrew version.
Divine Providence
Question
Hello Rabbi, I saw that the Rabbi does not believe in individual divine providence. Does that mean the Rabbi also does not believe that God is watching you all the time?
If so, then why should I keep the commandments?
And one more thing:
What does the Rabbi think about reward and punishment in Judaism, and about the World to Come?
Answer
I’ve already discussed this at length in many places, especially in the second book of the trilogy. There is no active providence (except perhaps in sporadic places and times), but there is passive providence (meaning that He observes us). Beyond that, the obligation to keep the commandments is not connected to providence. The obligation exists because that is what is right.
I don’t know.