Questions tagged [reward-punishment]
The concept of reward and punishment in Judaism- theologically, halachically, and philosophically
1
vote
1answer
33 views
Comprehensive list of punishments for all 365 negative commandments
Is there a comprehensive list of all the punishments for the 365 negative commandments?
The Rambam in Hilchos Sanhedrin reveals 243 (see below)--
what are the punishments for transgressing the ...
6
votes
2answers
172 views
Freewill and rewarding dogs
If animals don't have freewill, why are dogs rewarded for not having barked at Jewish people during the Exodus from Egypt? (Exodus 11 and Exodus 22)
4
votes
1answer
75 views
Motivation for Miztvot
According to Bava Kamma 79b, the penalty difference between a ganav and a gazlan is that the robber does not disrespect Hashem -- he commits his crime in full view of anyone, man or God but the thief ...
3
votes
2answers
230 views
Does Hashem care about Halachah Lemaase?
Upfront: this is a metaphysical/theological question
In many (almost all?) areas of Jewish practice, there are a number of different and at times diametrically opposed opinions as to what the ...
3
votes
2answers
71 views
'Alcoholic drinks' and 'reward' are both “שכר”
Alcoholic drinks (and drunkenness) and reward seem like rather disparate ideas! Is there a reason why they might imply one another and do any commentaries interchange between the two to bring some ...
1
vote
1answer
43 views
Source of a quote about the value of mitzvot involving pain
This quote is attributed to the Yerushalmi:
One mitzvah involving pain is worth a hundred mitzvot that do not.
Do you have the exact reference? Is this the only place this thought is expressed?
0
votes
0answers
33 views
Does the hell exist? [duplicate]
Does the hell exist? As in the book of Isaiah, there is a reference to "fire" that is not "quenched".
Isaiah 66:24
"And they shall go forth, and look upon the carcasses of the men that have ...
2
votes
1answer
82 views
What if the wicked son didn’t know better?
We say at the Seder:
רָשָׁע מָה הוּא אוֹמֵר? מָה הָעֲבוֹדָה הַזּאֹת לָכֶם. לָכֶם – וְלֹא לוֹ. וּלְפִי שֶׁהוֹצִיא אֶת עַצְמוֹ מִן הַכְּלָל כָּפַר בְּעִקָּר. וְאַף אַתָּה הַקְהֵה אֶת שִׁנָּיו ...
1
vote
1answer
55 views
Does God care about things that don't affect the Jews?
There is a trope in Judaism that God smites even the greatest Empires when they oppress the Jews.
Does God ever smite nations that are wicked to other non-Jews?
We do have the example of Sodom, but ...
2
votes
2answers
30 views
Cursing Adam and Eve in addition to punishment?
When Adam was commanded not to eat from the tree of knowledge, G-d presented him with the punishment (Ber 2.17):
וּמֵעֵץ הַדַּעַת טוֹב וָרָע לֹא תֹאכַל מִמֶּנּוּ כִּי בְּיוֹם אֲכָלְךָ מִמֶּנּוּ ...
1
vote
0answers
67 views
How can Kares be greater than execution by beis din (and also eternal according to R' Kapach)?
In this exposition of what kares means, the following view is quoted:
[...] R. Yosef Kafach (Mishneh Torah, Hilkhos Teshuvah ch. 8 n. 4) offers a different interpretation. He suggests that the ...
5
votes
2answers
79 views
Is kares a greater punishment than capital punishment, or vice versa?
In many cases (e.g., no warning, no witnesses) a capital crime is not punished by a beis din, but instead the offender gets kares. Let's assume for the purposes of this question that kares includes ...
10
votes
2answers
2k views
Which sins are beyond punishment?
Yishai said in a comment elsewhere on this forum :
It has been pointed out in Rishonim that some sins are so bad they
can't get a punishment - because the punishment creates forgiveness,
but ...
3
votes
2answers
101 views
Why are future generations still paying for the sin of the Golden Calf?
Parshas Ki Tisa recounts the episode of the golden calf, and the immediate punishment that was meted out for the sin. In addition to this, Rashi on Shemos 32:34 (quoting Sanhedrin 102a ) writes:
...
0
votes
1answer
72 views
Is a sin only counted if it was committed three times or more?
According to the Rambam (Teshuvah 3,5):
"בְּשָׁעָה שֶׁשּׁוֹקְלִין עֲוֹנוֹת אָדָם עִם זְכֻיּוֹתָיו אֵין מְחַשְּׁבִין עָלָיו עָוֹן שֶׁחָטָא בּוֹ תְּחִלָּה וְלֹא שֵׁנִי אֶלָּא מִשְּׁלִישִׁי וְאֵילָךְ."...
4
votes
3answers
108 views
Does Hashem reward you for keeping negative mitzvot?
Does Hashem reward you for keeping negative mitzvot or only punishes for trangressions?
3
votes
0answers
58 views
Does a Ben Noach, who keeps the seven mitzvot but has bad hashkafah, get punished by Hashem?
Does a Ben Noach, who keeps the seven mitzvot but has bad Hashkafah, get punished by Hashem?
For example, if the B'nei Noach says things that are kefira for a Jew like saying that the Oral Torah is ...
7
votes
2answers
87 views
The purpose of punishment in the Afterlife
This follows my previous question "can-one's-merits-in-the-world-to-come-be-traded"
In my humble understanding, the general purpose of punishment is to make someone better, to make a person change, ...
0
votes
2answers
40 views
Can one's merits or one's part in the World To Come be traded?
Say, someone is very afraid of his sins and the future punishment in Afterdeath. However, he did a lot of Mitzvos also and he's promised a part in the WTC as all Jews are.
Can he trade in the ...
1
vote
1answer
74 views
Karet and No Share in ha'olam Haba
What is the difference between a person who died without doing teshuva on his sins on Karet, Eternal gehinnom and having no share in the world to come?
1
vote
0answers
23 views
Why does the Torah not include jail as punishment? [duplicate]
The Torah does not include jail as punishment for transgressions. Death, flogging, fines, shunning, yes, but not jail. Do our sources comment on that? Where?
5
votes
1answer
56 views
Why was Chizqia losing Olam Haba?
Talmud Berachot 10a tells the discussion between Yeshaya and Chizqia about children:
מת אתה בעולם הזה ולא תחיה לעולם הבא! אמר לו מאי כולי האי?! אמר לו משום דלא עסקת בפריה ורביה. אמר לו וכולי
Dead ...
0
votes
0answers
62 views
Reward for saying Asher Yatzar
Is saying Asher Yatzar, the blessing after using the bathroom, something that one will get rewarded for? Will one get rewarded for each time he said Asher Yatzar?
Please cite sources.
5
votes
1answer
74 views
Even though “ayn shliach l'dvar aveirah” does the person who sent him also get a punishment?
The Mishnah in Bava Kamma 59a tells us that if Reuven sent a חרש שוטה וקטן (a person who does not understand the repercussions of his actions or under Bar Mitzva) to do a destructive action e.g ...
4
votes
2answers
124 views
Benefits of and punishments for Shabbat
I really wish to know with sources what are the benefits or rewards of observing Shabbat and what are the punishments for someone who desecrates it. Furthermore, what are the disadvantages of being a ...
6
votes
1answer
154 views
Why should we be punished for Adam's sin?
My kid asked:
I understand that Adam and Eve violated God's command by eating from the tree of knowledge and thus deserved punishment: as described in Genesis, Adam would have to work for his food ...
1
vote
1answer
46 views
Are gentiles obligated to fear Hashem (or at least fear punishment)?
As Jews we are commanded to fear Hashem and fear punishment to help us avoid sinning.
See Chinuch 432 for example:
ונוהגת מצוה זו בכל מקום ובכל זמן ובכל מין האדם, וזאת אחת מן המצות התמידיות על ...
8
votes
1answer
305 views
Is there any reward for the intent or attempt to do a mitzvah?
As per the title, does one earn any reward/s'char for the attempt (or even just the intent) to perform a mitzvah?
This evening, we all piled out of shul to say Kiddush Levana only to find that the ...
6
votes
2answers
97 views
Torah Study in English
Will one receive the reward of Learning Torah if they read the Tanach, Gemara, Shulchan Aruch, etc. in English if English is their mother tongue? Please cite sources.
1
vote
0answers
62 views
Judaism's view of pagans/polytheists [duplicate]
How does Judaism view pagans or polytheists? Will they be burnt in hell for eternity like what Christianity and Islam say?
3
votes
2answers
99 views
Reward for keeping Minhagim and Chumros
Over the years many Chumros and Minhagim have been created. For example, waiting 6 hours between meat and milk for Ashkenazim. Or not eating gebrochts on Pesach. So if it is a Minhag that cannot be ...
2
votes
1answer
85 views
Implications of “According to Your fear is Your anger” (“כיראתך עברתך”)
It says in Tehillim 90 (a chapter attributed to Moshe Rabbeinu, if that affects anything):
יא: מִֽי־י֖וֹדֵעַ עֹ֥ז אַפֶּ֑ךָ וּ֜כְיִרְאָֽתְךָ֗ עֶבְרָתֶֽךָ: לִמְנ֣וֹת
יָ֖מֵינוּ כֵּ֥ן הוֹדַ֑ע ...
1
vote
1answer
127 views
Giving your z'chus to someone else
B"H, I did - or almost did - a good deed. (It will be finalized bez"H in a mazeldiker shoh.) However, when I found out a few months ago that a good result from my actions was on the horizon, I decided ...
2
votes
1answer
50 views
Why does one receive reward for saying they will give tzedaka?
The Tosefta in Peah (4:17) states that if a person says they will give tzedaka and then gives it, they receive divine reward both for the "saying" and for the "giving." And in a case where the person ...
4
votes
0answers
84 views
A man tells us he raped a woman
The Torah says the following about a man who rapes a woman (Deuteronomy 22:29).
וְ֠נָתַן הָאִ֨ישׁ הַשֹּׁכֵ֥ב עִמָּ֛הּ לַאֲבִ֥י הנער [הַֽנַּעֲרָ֖ה] חֲמִשִּׁ֣ים כָּ֑סֶף וְלֽוֹ־תִהְיֶ֣ה לְאִשָּׁ֗ה ...
2
votes
0answers
35 views
Was Iyov rewarded for passing his first test?
In Iyov chapter 1 Satan proposes to God to test Iyov's fidelity to God by striking Iyov's possessions. God agrees and Iyov loses essentially everything. At the end of chapter 1 and again in chapter 2 ...
1
vote
0answers
25 views
Using אוהביו, יראיו, חסידיו in Chovas Halevavos referring to those who receive additional reward
ספר חובות הלבבות - שער הביטחון - פרק רביעי
Chovos Halevavos (Duties of the Heart) Shaar Habitachon (Gate of Trust) Chapter 4:
ועניני העולם הבא יחלקו לשני חלקים ... והשני שהוא מחסד הבורא יתעלה על ...
6
votes
2answers
158 views
What is the punishment for someone who talks another person into committing suicide?
There's a famous case in the US of a young woman who basically pressures her online boyfriend to kill himself. The evidence was particularly damning against her and the case is clear that if she hadn'...
7
votes
1answer
382 views
Not finding your bashert is a punishment for doing zera levatala?
Are there Kabbalistic or Talmudic sources saying that not finding your bashert is a punishment for doing zera levatala (wasteful seminal emission)? I heard a popular rabbi make this claim in a class ...
2
votes
1answer
97 views
Is there a limit to rewards on single acts?
According to the principle of kam lei b'derabah minei קם ליה בדרבה מיניה a single improper act incurs the strictest penalty even if more than one violation occurs.
Is there a parallel limit to the ...
5
votes
1answer
146 views
Do woman get reward for not shaving their payos and beard
Do woman/non-Jews get a reward for not doing things they are permitted to do, and men / Jews are forbidden to do?
I know that if someone does a mitzvah they are not commanded doing, they get a reward....
0
votes
0answers
69 views
Women and the egel
The Leviim were rewarded for not participating in the egel (golden calf) by replacing the buchorim (firstborn) as the workers in the mishkan. But the women also did not participate in the calf. What ...
1
vote
4answers
129 views
Is serving Hashem in order to receive reward in Olam Habah ideal?
משנה אבות פרק א משנה ג
אַל תִּהְיוּ כַעֲבָדִים הַמְשַׁמְּשִׁין אֶת הָרַב עַל מְנָת לְקַבֵּל
פְּרָס, אֶלָּא הֱווּ כַעֲבָדִים הַמְשַׁמְּשִׁין אֶת הָרַב שֶׁלֹּא עַל
מְנָת לְקַבֵּל פְּרָס, וִיהִי ...
0
votes
2answers
74 views
From where/Why do you get more reward for doing a obligated mitzvah than a non obligated mitzvah?
Ive heard (not sure where)that you get more reward for doing a obligated mitzvah than a non obligated mitzvah. Where is this brought down, and whats the reason for this?
2
votes
0answers
66 views
The basic jewish model for reward and punishment
I'd like to understand what is known and not hidden by god in regards the accounting of mitzvas:
What happened after Yom Kipur - does god balance all my miztvas in comparison to sins I made in the ...
1
vote
1answer
287 views
Punishment for Eating Non-Kosher
What is the biblical or talmudic prescribed punishment for knowingly eating meat of a non-kosher animal. I seem to recall some kind of distinction in punishment between eating out of indulgence or ...
2
votes
1answer
68 views
learning torah for deceased person - is all reward to the deceased?
There is a custom to learn torah (especially mishnayos) for a deceased person. Does all the torah study reward go to the deceased person or does some torah study reward also go to the person learning? ...
2
votes
2answers
79 views
Does a child get reward for Mitzvos performed
It seems non-Jews and women get reward for Mitzvot they do (even the ones they are not obligated to do)*
does this apply also to a "deaf-mute, imbecile or child"?
sources, please
*Sifra Vayikra 18,...
1
vote
1answer
136 views
Do good christians go to heaven when they die (Gan Eden)? [duplicate]
Will Christians have a share in the world to come if they truly did not know that Judaism was true, and were brought up with Jesus their whole lives? And can that same concept be applied to atheist as ...
3
votes
0answers
138 views
Adam and Chava’s Punishment
I’m sure this was asked here multiple times, but I’m having trouble finding it. Can someone please explain to me:
1) how is Adam’s punishment of “eating bread from the sweat of your brow” a ...
