Questions tagged [reward-punishment]
The concept of reward and punishment in Judaism- theologically, halachically, and philosophically
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Is one punished for sinful thoughts? [duplicate]
Is one punished for sinful thoughts brought upon by one's yetzer hara? Please give sources, thanks in advance.
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What happened to King Achashverosh?
All the main characters in the story of Purim were either killed, or raised to a level of authority. additionally, it is mentioned in the megillah what happened to them (Vashti was killed, Haman and ...
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Does the fact that G-d rewards and punishes show that there must be free will?
From the Rambam (Hilchos Teshuvah 5:4) it seems that if not for the concept of free choice, there would be no concept of reward and punishment.
The question is: even if there would be no concept of ...
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Rewarding the few while punishing the majority
Why does the creation of the world to reward the few who can successfully work on themselves to cleave to Hashem have to come at the expense of the vast majority of mankind not getting olam haba and ...
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Why were the Bnei Yisrael exiled to Egypt?
I'm not asking why they literally went down (e.g. to look for food). I'm asking, what did they do wrong to deserve it. They were the direct descendants of some of the greatest people in all of history ...
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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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Are non-Jews rewarded for following the Torah?
Obviously a non-Jew cannot keep Shabbos but what if, for example, they wanted to keep kosher and say brachos on food? Are they rewarded?
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Yefas Toar - rape allowed by the Torah before the marriage?
Ki Saitzai deals with the Eishes Yefas Toar “woman of beautiful form” taken in battle.
Ramban and Rabbeinu Tam say that the Torah permits the soldier to have relations with the maiden immediately. ...
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Torah Study and Tzitzit
The Sages have said "The study of Torah is equivalent to all of them [613 Mitzvot]." (Kedushin 39b)
I assume that means the reward of Torah study is equal to the reward of doing each ...
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Parshas Behalosecha: The inverted nuns demarcating two punishments
In Parshas Behalosecha, famously the verses 10:35-36 are bookended with two inverted "נ's":
׆ וַיְהִ֛י בִּנְסֹ֥עַ הָאָרֹ֖ן וַיֹּ֣אמֶר מֹשֶׁ֑ה קוּמָ֣ה ׀ ה' וְיָפֻ֙צוּ֙ אֹֽיְבֶ֔יךָ וְיָנֻ֥סוּ ...
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Evidence for the traditional details of Gehinnom?
I know this question's title is a bit misleading because there is no "Traditional Framework" for Hell, but here's what I'm really asking:
Regarding all the claims and opinions that are made ...
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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 ...
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Looking for a midrash concerning aveirot that increase suspicions of oneself in others
Shalom.
I asked this question a few days ago, and quickly deleted it when I realised it was Yom Tov (I am a Noachide). I tried reinstating the question just now, but noticed that it did not go to the ...
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What do we want? How to resolve this seeming mixed message in Alshich on Shir HaShirim 1:4?
Here is an excerpt. I recommend learning the whole commentary on 1:4 before considering answering the question.
הה"ד משכני וכו' והוא כי הלא יקשה בכתוב אשר הערנו למעלה אומרו משכני
לשון יחיד נרוצה ...
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A thought is considered a separate sin?
When someone commits a sin, is the thought of that sin considered a separate transgression? If this person, for instance, eats a forbidden food, is the thought of eating this food considered a second ...
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When attempting to sin is considered an actual sin?
If someone attempts to sin but, for some reason, is not successful, normally God disregards his attempt and does not punish him (as it is stated in Kiddushin 40a "מַחְשָׁבָה רָעָה אֵין הַקָּדוֹשׁ ...
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Does the Tanakh teach some will suffer eternal conscious torment?
Many identifying as Christians teach that sinners will suffer eternal conscious torment, but I'm wondering what the Jewish view is. Is there an argument from the Tanakh that some will undergo eternal ...
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Does one still get Schar for trying to do a Mitzvah even if they didn’t end up doing it properly?
Presumably a person would still get some Schar for putting in the effort for doing a Mitzvah even if they didn’t end up doing it properly, right? Lfum Tzaarah Agra?
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How can Chachamim put price tags on mitzvot?
The Gemera in Chullin 87a (and see Shulchan Aruch Choshen Mishpat 382:1) that one who steals another persons mitzvah must give the person from who he stole 10 zehuvim. My question is, how can Chachmim ...
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Man's Duty in this World
According to Judaism, what is man's duty in this world, and what should man's goal in life be?
Is our goal to fulfill G0d's commandments, which will earn us a place in Olam Haba, or is our goal merely ...
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Why was Yaackov punished for answering Pharaoh's Question, "How old are you?"
Why was Yaackov punished for answering Pharaoh the way he did when pharaoh asked him how old he was?
I am sure Yaakov knew how to answer this easy to figure out question quite well. Well enough not to ...
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Why does a Tanya level Tzadik get rewarded?
One description of a Tanya Tzadik says (from this answer):
This provides us with new parameters for understanding who is a Tzadik. In a Tzadik, the battle between the two souls is over and the winner ...
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What is the difference between mida k'negged mida and nekama
Not a kasha, a sincere question. What is the exact reason that mida k'negged mida is not considered revenge?
Issues that may or may not be relevant:
Is it just because it is Hashem doing it?
Does ...
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Give account to God?
I read a lot in the Jewish and even Christian community that we will have to give an account to God one day. How will this be done? Is there a whole process, or a protocol to be followed? Will the ...
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When is it wrong to not do a positive mitzvah
I've heard several times in the past (without sources) that it is a big problem for a Jewish man to not wear tzitzis during the day, but why? Isn't it just that we are rewarded for doing it? Does ...
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Accepting judgement
I often think about the people who went through the concentration camps run by the Nazis, and many of the other horrific things that Jewish people have been subjected to throughout the ages. I ...
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What sin was Hevel killed for? [duplicate]
In Judaism we believe that someone who is murdered is being killed as punishment for his sins. What sin did Hevel commit to deserve to be put to death?
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Being punished for things beyond bechira point
According to Rabbi Dessler's idea of a "bechira point", if something is beyond my bechira point and I transgress it, does that mean that I won't be punished for it because it is beyond what ...
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Reducing aveiros vs increasing mitzvos
Is it more important to focus on reducing our aveiros than increasing our mitzvos? Does that depend on anything?
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Make a neder to forbid from oneself reward in the World to Come
I always understood that a neder is forbidding physical pleasure or benefit from oneself. I believe this is the common understanding. However, I saw a surprising statement of the Maharal in his ...
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Punishment, free will, and being an agent
I seem to recall (in the context of no one experiencing hurt/punishment unless Hashem decreed it) that those who are lacking in merit are used as instruments to punish others, so we pray to not be an ...
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What Torah issur did the meraglim transgress?
Since the meraglim sinned after the Torah has already been given, it'd seem that to be punished with death they would have had to transgress a Torah issur which carries the capital punishment (or misa ...
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Rape perpetrated by an adult male towards a girl under three years of age: halachic framework
In his Mishneh Torah -Issurei Biah 1:13, Rambam states that if a male copulates with a girl under the age of three,also the male,even if he was an adult, is exempt from liability, for the act is not ...
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The merits of the righteous save others from punishment (Sukkah 45b). How is this different from the idea of the Nazarene?
Gemoro Sukkah (Sefaria) 45b includes the concept of the merits of righteous people saving others from punishment:
And Ḥizkiya said that Rabbi Yirmeya said in the name of Rabbi Shimon
ben Yoḥai: I am ...
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Rav Kapach's commentary on the eighth chapter of Rambam's Mishneh Torah-Hilchot Teshuvah
I am an Italian ben Noach.
In the discussion
Does Rambam hold of eternal punishment?
I have read, in the user Alex's message, that according to Rav Kapah Rambam, in the eighth chapter of the Hilchot ...
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Forgiveness of Adam's sin
Why do we suffer for the sin not committed by us, is it not contrary to Ezekiel 18? Can we ask for this sin to be forgiven? and how do we repent from something we have no access to?
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Can one transfer someone else's sin onto himself?
Can one accept the consequences of someone else's actions?
It would seem unfair and unlikely that one would be able to accept someone else's rewards. If that is true, does it also apply to accepting ...
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Parallels in Sotah 11a and Shabbat 33b
I noticed yesterday that there are some similarities between the story brought in Sotah 11a and the one in Shabbat 33b. In Sotah 11a it says:
"Rabbi Ḥiyya bar Abba says that Rabbi Simai says: ...
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What is the punishment for a Jewish non-married woman who has relations with a non-Jewish man?
I have heard that the punishment is that she will forever be Zonah but I have no sources
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Punishment for not Studying the Torah
Does HaShem punish someone in this world for not studying the Torah ?
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Why prohibitions and their corresponding punishments are separated in the Torah?
I was arguing with a Documentary Hypothesis supporter who claimed that we consistently find that Biblical prohibitions and their punishments are not written in one place. The Ten Commandments are a ...
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Only Kohanim get reward for mitzvos in this world
There's a concept of שכר מצוות בהאי עלמא ליכא, there is no reward for mitzvos in this world (Kiddushin 39b). Much has been written on what this means and why it's true, but I found a innovative idea ...
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What was the reason for Job's original success and prosperity?
The book starts with the description of Job's piety and then his wealth and success:
... That man was blameless and upright; he feared God and shunned evil. Seven sons and three daughters were born ...
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Does one get punished for not keeping positve mitzvos?
Does one get punished for not keeping positive mitzvos? Or is it the case that you just do not get the reward for keeping them and punishments are for transgressing negative mitzvos?
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Why isn't Heavenly judgement final and exhaustive and requires Earthy retribution?
Many Biblical and Rabbinic sources speak of the Earthy retribution - a person suffers (is justly punished) in this Earthy world because of the sins of previous generations. For example,
"אֵל ...
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Can external actions reduce my "reward" for giving charity?
The Rambam lists 8 levels of giving charity, saying one is better than the next. I am assuming that there is some greater advantage to performing this mitzvah on a "higher" level, an idea ...
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Delayed Judgement on Rosh Hashana
I heard that the judgement determined on Rosh Hashana does not start to get carried out until some date after the chagim, possibly in Marcheshvan or later. Is anyone familiar with this teaching and ...
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Is it wrong to expect rewards for observance?
Many commentators have told us to perform the commandments for their own sake, out of love, not for the purpose of receiving rewards. The Rambam summarized this exhortation as follows :
"When I ...
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What exactly is "prohibited magic" in Judaism?
It appears that "magic" in most "modern" "western" civilizations is prohibited. But societies like those in China or Latin America or Africa have mentions of all kinds of ...
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Are thousands of generations to be accounted for literally?
Deuteronomy 5:10 ..."To those who keep His commandments...God's grace is extended to a thousand generations", Rashi's comment suggests when obeying out of fear.
Deuteronomy 7:9..."Those ...
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