Q&A: Providence
Originally published:
This is an English translation (via GPT-5.4). Read the original Hebrew version.
Providence
Question
More questions on this topic:
- When the Torah says, "for it shall not be forgotten from the mouths of their offspring," how is that supposed to be enforced? What would happen if all of the Jewish people decided to stop learning? Is there no intervention from above?
- I tried to look for where the Rabbi argues against the principle of "double causation" and couldn't find it. Could I get a short answer on the matter? Why can't it be that there is an external, visible cause for a certain event, but behind the scenes there is also a spiritual cause / divine intervention that caused the event to happen?
Thank you for the response and for your availability! It really isn't something to take for granted
Answer
A. Why should it be enforced? It's a promise, not a commandment. The promise can also be on a statistical basis.
B. It seems you didn't really look. There are quite a few places. For example, column 297.
Discussion on Answer
Rabbi Michi meant it like the way Maimonides explained that the Egyptians would oppress the children of Israel.
The answer to A seems very far from the plain meaning of the text. The Torah says that when many troubles come upon the Jewish people, what will stir it to return is this song that will come before it, and why is there such great confidence that this will happen? Because "it shall not be forgotten from the mouths of their offspring." It seems there is a prophecy here that the Torah will not be forgotten from the Jewish people, as if outside free choice.