Questions tagged [theology]

Questions regarding our understanding of God, such as it is. NOT for every question about Jewish beliefs.

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Why did Eve Believe the Snake?

Rashi in Genesis 3 states: כָּל אֻמָּן שׂוֹנֵא אֶת בְּנֵי אֻמָּנוּתוֹ, מִן הָעֵץ אָכַל וּבָרָא אֶת הָעוֹלָם (בראשית רבה): כי ידע FOR [GOD] KNOWS — Every artisan detests his fellow-artisans (“Two of a ...
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History of religiosity decline after haskalah

Is any reason given by religiously Jewish theologians and thinkers for why religiosity and observance amongst Jews declined after the Haskalah? Are there any opinions rabbinic authorities have given ...
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Ralbag and G-D'S Knowledge

I have recently read some posts here commenting about Ralbag and the Book III of Milchamot Hashem in which the basic idea is that G-D'S Knowledge of man's future actions is limited by man's free will. ...
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Do we have free will or does Hashem know everything? [duplicate]

Does Hashem know the future? If not, how is he God? Doesn’t God know everything?
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Hashem too holy to abide by us, yet closer to us than we can imagine - how to resolve?

tl;dr: Hashem creates us and communicates with us through prophecy. Creating seems as "close and personal" an activity as communicating, if not more. I note that He creates everyone (...
3 votes
2 answers
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Do we have the capacity to bless Hashem?

When children are taught that Baruch Ata Ado... means " the source of all blessings' ' as opposed to "blessed are you Hashem' ' because we don't have the capacity to bless our creator. Is ...
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Why did G-d allow for the serpent to be in the Garden (which is a sacred space) when the serpent is deceitful by nature and thus, evil?

According to the Ancient Israelite view, the Garden is a manifestation of sacred space (this is the sacred space theology. The Holy Temple was a manifestation of sacred space on Earth), guarded by ...
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What does "אל" mean?

I am talking about the Lashon Hakodesh appelation, אל, which is often translated as "God". What, precisely does it mean? How do we relate to a God, vs say, a King, or an Eternity, or a Lord ...
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How did the early Kabbalists reconcile the belief in sefirot with the absolute unity of God?

It's possible the question has already been asked here, but wasn't able to find. So please excuse me for posting this again. The early Jewish philosophers/thinkers (Saadia, Ramabam, Bachya Ibn Pakuda ...
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Repent, but NOT Because God Commands So ...?

The L'Dofkei B'Tshuva cites the Beit Yitzchak (B"Y) who states that the act of Teshuva needs no specific accompanying intent to fulfill the mitzva - unlike other mitzvot. Teshuva is all about ...
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Are non-Jews considered Hashem's "children"?

The pasuk says "banim atem lashem elokeichem," referring to us. Is there a drasha anywhere (or another source) that says that non-Jews are not called Hashem's children? (I don't think this ...
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How can He reign over no subjects? [אדון עולם אשר מלך בטרם כל יצור נברא]

אדון עולם אשר מלך בטרם כל יצור How can He have "reigned" over no one? Shouldn't another term have been used? אין מלך בלא עם ! (I'd also like to hear an explanation from Chassidus.) Possible ...
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Plague of Hails

Shemoth 9:23-"So Moses held out his rod toward the sky, and Hashem sent thunder and hail, and fire streamed down to the ground, as Hashem rained down hail upon the land of Egypt." Shemoth 9:...
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Is Panentheism considered heretical? [duplicate]

(Closely related to this post, but I think it is still a bit different) Panentheism: A doctrine that the universe subsists within Gcd, but that Gcd nevertheless transcends or has some existence ...
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Where do our thoughts come from? [closed]

Source: https://nehoraschool.com/are-our-thoughts-ours/ Are there any torah or talmudic sources for the statements in this article here?: Rabbi Yehuda Leib Ashlag, the great master Kabbalist, teaches ...
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What is אנדרלמוסיא

It is quite clear from context that it means a type of heavenly group punishment, like a flood or a plague* where both good and bad die, l'a. It seems mainly connected with the sin of זִּמָּה/זְנוּת i....
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Why is being religious a duty if God chose to not have a proof to his existence in this world?

According to the answers to the question "How do we know that God exists" it seems some (if not most) Jews on this site believe there is no way to verify whether or not God even exists. If this view ...
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עוֹשֶׂה חֲדָשׁוֹת - what is this referring to?

In the morning berachot of Shema, we call Hashem עוֹשֶׂה חֲדָשׁוֹת - Doer/Former of Novelties. What does this mean? What is it referring to? Possibly referring to the "הַמְחַדֵּשׁ בְּטוּבוֹ ...
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How can we be sure that Judaism is true/the truth?

I borrowed (with permission) a question from Ahmed Han, which is: People of every religion claim that they are the ones in the right path. Even the people of sects in these religions think that ...
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2 answers
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Kabbalah/chasidus explanations of theodicy

Are there any kabbalistic or hasidic explanations given to the question of theodicy? Beyond “rational”/philosophical explanations, are there any mystical reasons given to why bad things happen? If so, ...
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Theological issues to certain brachot

According to the way many people understand the Rambam in Mishneh Torah but especially in Moreh Nevuchim, and many other Jewish Philosophers, when the Torah uses any words to describe Hashem, they are ...
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Source that we are inherently deserving

The question is about the concept not the song. I noticed an interesting difference in the lyrics of two versions of the song "Ribon" by Beri Weber. The original English version contains the ...
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Why did God reveal himself only before there were recording devices?

Inspired by this: For most of what's written in Tanakh, the only evidence that we have of its truth is Tanakh itself. Since many people are skeptical of a book with no independent sources backing up ...
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Proof of Hashem via Talmud/Amora/Tanna

Does anyone know of the places where a Tanna/Amora offers a proof for the existence of Hashem. ie: Bereshit Rabbah 39:1 Avraham Avinu passes a castle on fire (see below) Is there perhaps a list, or a ...
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Meaning of Shmuel 2:22:26

עִם־חָסִיד תִּתְחַסָּד עִם־גִּבּוֹר תָּמִים תִּתַּמָּם׃ With a kind person, You are kind. With a person strong in innocence, You are innocent. Shmuel 2:22:26 תָּמִים could also be translated as whole,...
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Was the man who wrestled with Jacob, God?

It seems to me that the most plain reading of the passage in Genesis 32:22-32 suggests the man who wrestled with Jacob was somehow God, as crazy or as insane as it may sound. I'm looking for ...
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Is it to our credit, or our discredit, if we feel ashamed and in awe of the Greatness of the Divine Presence?

There's a theme that appears a lot in the commentaries that being afraid of holiness, ashamed of nakedness and so on are either good things, or unfortunate results of bad things. For an example of the ...
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Is G-d's 'mind' separate from Him?

Recently, I've been studying Neoplatonic philosophy in its Jewish context and the history of Jewish Neoplatonic thought. In such a view, some propose that because G-d, blessed be He, is absolutely ...
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(Why) did God take away free will from the sons of Eli?

In 1 Shmuel 2:25 it indicates that the sons of Eli don't repent for their sins because God wanted to kill them וְלֹ֤א יִשְׁמְעוּ֙ לְק֣וֹל אֲבִיהֶ֔ם כִּֽי־חָפֵ֥ץ ה' לַהֲמִיתָֽם But [the sons of Eli] ...
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Ger chassidus teachings

Does the community know what defines Ger chasiduss ideologically and Hashkafically? Is there an English translated sefarim or article that explains the basics of the Hasidic dynasty’s teachings?
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2 answers
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Is it commendable to be fearful of God's wrath?

In the daily recitation of the Shema, we mention God's anger (וחרה אף) as a potential motivation for adhering to the Torah. However, there seems to be a concern that some individuals might ...
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Man like God or separate from God

Bereshit 3:22: ויאמר ה' אלקים הן האדם היה כאחד ממנו לדעת טוב ורע Then the Lord God said, “Behold, the man has become like one of Us, to know good and evil" Is this the correct translation? ...
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Why does G-d, blessed be He, say that something did not enter His mind when He is all-knowing?

Jeremiah 19:5 states: They have built high places to Baal on which to burn their children in the fire as offerings to Baal— something I never commanded or mentioned, nor did it even enter My mind. ...
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Should someone who isn't 100% certain of God's existence be considered a kofer?

I was told by two respected Roshai Yeshiva that one who isn't certain of God's existence (an agnostic) is not deemed to be a kofer (denier of His existence) as long as he thinks that His existence is ...
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Elohim distinct from YHWH Elohim

In Genesis 1 it is Elohim who created. In Genesis 2 from verse 4 we see that YHWH Elohim created Adam and the animals etc. From here onwards God is referred to as YHWH Elohim. Then we read of the ...
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Does God love non-Jews?

I've read the topic of whether or not God discriminates between Jews and non-Jews, but does God love non-Jews? Does it say anywhere that He does love non-Jews. I don't believe that God hates non-Jews ...
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Is there a comprehensive list(s) which has every single attribute/trait of G-d, blessed be He, with their corresponding Torah, Talmud, etc. verses?

As the question states, I'm looking for some kind of a resource which contains a clear list, in a bullet-point form or otherwise, of every single attribute of G-d, blessed be He, according to Jewish ...
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How can we exist?

Positing that G.od is perfect (by the fact that he is the moral authority and is thought of as absolute perfection according to the general consensus); a change that he makes would mean that he was ...
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How can a name exist before anything was Created

BH I heard “before the world was created it was the Holy one blessed be He and His Great Name alone” עד שלא נברא העולם, היה הקדוש ברוך הוא ושמו הגדול בלבד Source How can a name exist before ...
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Sources to Learn about Bechina

I'm studying Chovos Halevavos. Can you provide me with some further sources to learn more about Chovos Halevavos's "bechina", i.e., reflecting on God's kindnesses in creation. Books/articles/...
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Why do Rabbis say that HaShem was mistaken and HaShem states that He was defeated and that He must obey the Rabbis?

I've been reading an article on an Islamic website called Muslim Skeptic and came accross the following: The way that Jews depict God, they celebrate the notion of debating with God, winning ...
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Why does Hashem force us to follow His commandments?

I understand that we have free will and are punished for doing things that hurt others, and are rewarded for doing the right thing. What I do not understand is, why does Hashem send us to Gehinnom for ...
10 votes
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Does God need us?

Does God need us? In Nitzavim, God says: This commandment [in the singular], that I command you today, is not hidden from you and is not distant. [Deut. 30:11] The Midrash explains: What [single] “...
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Saying God is Great in Arabic - is a Jew allowed?

We all know the "aqbar" phrase. Is it permissible for a Jew to say this phrase? The assumption is that it is ok, because it commonly said that we are talking about the same Hashem. This ...
7 votes
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Why is the name of mercy YHWH is mentioned exclusively in the story of Sodom?

The name YHWH is associated with mercy whereas the name Elokim is associated with justice (Refer to Rashi on Devarim 3:24 quoting the Sifrei here). I noticed that the name of YHWH is used exclusively ...
2 votes
3 answers
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Hashem and the Platonic World

2 + 2 = 4, right? If I have 2 things, and you have 2 things, we have 4 things between us. This is a logical reality that is inescapable. If we want a coherent, consistent set of rules for counting, ...
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How do you know what is God's will in a particular situation?

After reading this superb article by the great Rabbi Noah Weinberg I'm left pondering point number 5 "Make your will God's will". I understand that this does not mean that whatever you personally ...
15 votes
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Is God swayed by popular appeal?

When we pray for someone to be healed, we pray this individually in the Amidah but we also often have a community mi shebeirach list. I assume that there is a theological reason for the public prayer,...
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Would there be bad tidings in Olam Haba?

https://www.sefaria.org/Pesachim.50a.17 ״וְהָיָה ה׳ לְמֶלֶךְ עַל כׇּל הָאָרֶץ בַּיּוֹם הַהוּא יִהְיֶה ה׳ אֶחָד וּשְׁמוֹ אֶחָד״. אַטּוּ הָאִידָּנָא לָאו אֶחָד הוּא? אָמַר רַבִּי אַחָא בַּר חֲנִינָא: ...
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Hashem's will is not "nihilo", so why is it "creatio ex nihilo"?

The traditional objection is to any material having existed prior to the creation of the Heavens and the Earth, but then why not call it "creation without material"? The will of Hashem is not "nihilo" ...

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