Q&A: Faith / Belief
Faith / Belief
Question
Hello Rabbi! I have several questions about the Holy One, blessed be He. According to the Rabbi’s definition, God created the world and oversees all the details of creation. So I have a few things that need clarification: 1. How does observance of the commandments by me, and by a tiny nation like the Jewish people, contribute to the world’s continued existence? 2. Without observance of the commandments, would the world cease to exist? 3. Why does God want us to keep the commandments? 4. What do you suggest to someone who has become religious and loves learning Torah, but really can’t connect to prayer at all, even after studying the meaning of prayer? In my view it’s just too long. 5. What are Gehinnom and the Garden of Eden? 6. Will Sabbath desecrators who do not believe in God be punished after their death?
Answer
Nitzan, hello. You asked a lot of questions; in my opinion some of them aren’t important, and I also don’t know how to answer them. I’ll try to answer briefly.
First of all, where did you get my definition of God from, especially regarding providence over all the details of creation, which I don’t really accept.
1. I have no idea. I trust the words of the Holy One, blessed be He, that observance of the commandments is important and beneficial.
2. It doesn’t seem to me that it would happen immediately, but maybe the Holy One, blessed be He, would decide there’s no point in continuing. I don’t know.
3. I don’t know.
4. I’ll tell you the truth: I also don’t really connect to prayer. And in my opinion too, it is definitely far too long. As far as I’m concerned, it’s an obligation like any other commandment, and I try to fulfill it as such. A person focuses on what speaks to him, and as for the rest, he does what needs to be done. Like those who focus on learning, or acts of kindness, or any other religious task.
5. I don’t know.
6. I don’t know. It’s possible they won’t receive reward, but punishment requires guilt. I once wrote an article that an atheist is not subject to commandment or transgression. According to that, it would seem that he will receive neither reward nor punishment. But discussion of these topics is mere speculation.