The special, wonderful, sweet manager and editor of the “Brissi Yitzchak – Rabbi Brand” website has linked to Hyehudi.org (on the homepage!).
So. Um… I’ll just say it: How much are you…?
Yes, you cynic, for free.
The screenshot proof:
If anyone reading this has a website of their own (or Facebook, etc.), feel free to copy this brilliant idea. And then tell me, so I can thank you!
… It is told that the great Chasidic leader Rabbi Zusia of Hanipoli (c. 1720-1800) once came late to synagogue. When he was asked what happened, he replied that when he woke up in the morning, he began the usual prayer, “I give thanks before You …” (Modeh ani lefanekha). He said the first three words and could go no further. He explained, “I became suddenly aware of who the ‘I’ was, and who the ‘You’ was. I was struck speechless and could not continue.”
Jewish Meditation, by Rabbi Aryeh Kaplan, p. 94
Please tell me you jest! Occasional, justifiable lateness is not evil. Not all Chassidic Rebbes encouraged lateness. Was there nothing else you could gain from the story quoted above? The title is so inflammatory, I…?
The title was half-joking.
Now I’m half-offended.
What is creation’s “institutional incentives structure“?
This world (Olam Hazeh) is imperfect incentive-wise (for good reason).
Yes, there is some palpable cause and effect. Mankind is ordered to punish crime (in the 7 Noahide laws), Jews to study and teach Torah. But Negative Sanctions (built-in theurgic punishment and/or natural consequence) here (and in the hereafter) are neither immediate nor apparent. Not all sin and foolishness is evidently harmful to the individual or collective good, especially in the short term. Divine wrath is astoundingly forbearing. The costs of minor moral corruption are socialized. And many forms of righteousness are an application of the free-rider problem.
What about Devarim 29:17 – 20?
פן יש בכם איש או אשה או משפחה או שבט אשר לבבו פנה היום מעם ד’ אלקינו… והיה בשמעו את דברי האלה הזאת והתברך בלבבו לאמר שלום יהיה לי כי בשררות לבי אלך למען ספות הרוה את הצמאה. לא יאבה ד’ סלח לו… והבדילו ד’ לרעה מכל שבטי ישראל ככל אלות הברית הכתובה בספר התורה הזה.
What about it? Hashgachah is commonly concealed. We don’t clearly see Yirmiyahu 17:11 (עשה עשר ולא במשפט בחצי ימיו יעזבנו), or Kesubos 30a, end (…מיום שחרב בית המקדש אע”פ שבטלו סנהדרין דין ארבע מיתות לא בטלו), either.
And yet, and yet… Divine providence and revelation still cannot be described as “Perverse Incentives“.
We are granted free choice in both directions; free indeed.
The Editor