Rabbeinu Bachya (Kad HaKemach Avel): Among the verses in Koheles which seem to be contrary to the faith is this one (Koheles 9:11) which says that the race is not to the swift and the battle is not to the might … but rather it is determined by the stars. … Nevertheless in fact this statement is the very essence of faith. It is to be understood as saying that one’s talents alone do not bring about success but rather it is a result of merit which is earned. It is only because of their merit that they are provided with the opportunity and other factors which lead to success. Thus every successful endeavor for peace and prosperity in this world is determined by the person’s merit. Similarly failure is the result of deserved punishment. The proper Torah attitude is to ascribe the peace and prosperity that comes to others as being the result of their merit or that of their ancestors. The peace and prosperity of the person himself is to be viewed as the result of G d’s mercy. He is not to view ascribe his success either to the stars or his own merit because one should consider himself to be wicked or a sinner even if he is in fact righteous. It is correct to ascribe all bad happenings - whether to himself or to others - as being the result of sin and not accident.
Does someone with ADHD have regular Free will?
ReplyDeleteEarly Oedipus complex in the Torah?
ReplyDeleteGenesis 35:22 says, "And it came to pass, while Israel dwelt in that land, that Reuben went and lay with Bilhah his father's concubine; and Israel heard of it."[11] As a result of this adultery, he lost the respect of his father, who said: "Unstable as water, you shall excel no longer; For when you mounted your father’s bed, You brought disgrace—my couch he mounted!"[12