Sunday, September 12, 2021

Yom Kippur as a vending machine

 I have been recently researching the issue of Avoda Zara. Contrary to popular believe it doesn't just mean avoiding bowing down to idols. It primarily means not ascribing the ability to grant benefit independent of G-d. 

One of the themes of the rav's Shabbos Shuva drasha was that tshuva means to return to G-d i.e. that He one alone provides us with what we need. 

 שׁ֚וּבָה יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל עַ֖ד יְהוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֶ֑יךָ כִּ֥י כָשַׁ֖לְתָּ בַּעֲוֺנֶֽךָ׃ Hoshea 14:2

איכה ה׳:(כא) הֲשִׁיבֵ֨נוּ יְהוָ֤ה ׀ אֵלֶ֙יךָ֙ ונשוב [וְֽנָשׁ֔וּבָה] חַדֵּ֥שׁ יָמֵ֖ינוּ כְּקֶֽדֶם׃

Even though this seems obvious.,however today there is a competing understanding. 

Acquiring enough zechusim so that G-d must give us what we want. This means by giving tzadaka to one  of several  particular causes, receiving a blessing from a pariculat tzadik or gadol or through segulos in particular saying Nismas for 40 day .

 This latter approach is basically viewing tshuva as a vending machine, once enough coins are inserted the desired result will happen. There is no concern or involvement of G-d.



2 comments:

  1. Torah + tzaddik as a vending machine. Do not use the Torah as a spade with which to dig. Yet many make a living off the Torah or supposed franchises.

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  2. Similar to something I told a patient a few months ago - God is not a vending machine and prayers aren't quarters.

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