Faith

Faith

MembersWithout reward, it makes no sense to believe in God

There is no nation that struggle more than Israel with God’s values, even in national politics, as the tension between flesh and spirit grows.

Prayer at the Western Wall for the release of the hostages. Photo: Chaim Goldberg/Flash90
Prayer at the Western Wall for the release of the hostages. Photo: Chaim Goldberg/Flash90

“In politics, there are no values like in Judaism. What moves and turns politics are interests,” said Haim Yelin (65), a member of Kibbutz Be’eri and former Knesset member of the Yesh Atid party. He made this statement when asked why the hostage deal had been delayed for so long, until Eli Sharabi and Ohad Ben Ami from his kibbutz were released. “The people of Israel believe in Pidiyon Shvuim, in the ‘redemption of captives,’ which is of the highest value in the Bible. It was the people of Israel who urged the government to redeem our brothers and sisters. Unfortunately, in politics, there are no values, or only very few.” This was not specifically aimed at the current government; rather, it applies to all governments and all oppositions. Yelin’s words, who immigrated to Israel from Argentina at the age of 18, made me thoughtful. Is this really the case? Are there really no values in politics, no interest in faith or religion? Does it even make sense to believe in God if we are not rewarded for it?...

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Patrick Callahan

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One response to “Without reward, it makes no sense to believe in God”

  1. Johanel Rosenbaum says:

    Every person is a person who lives in interests (what else, plz). G*d (JHWH, Elijeh) exists, but not above us, only in us. This may be a brutal, if not scandalous, statement. But it is true… in today’s world.
    It is scandalous because it makes us lonely. It is brutal because it forces us to decide for ourselves. This is even more difficult than on the stock market. There it is about money, in life it is about the name that HE knows.
    Look at Mose! Was it luck, was it chance … or was it HIS will? Not in the burning bush, but in Mose himself? However, this leads to self-examination: What am I doing for HIS will? Is what I am doing HIS will?
    This question is the most important one in human life. It can lead to happiness, but also to death. To honor and glory, but also to contempt. No one knows the outcome beforehand.
    However, this is the question that should guide us. When you read the true traditions of our Rabbi and Prophet Yeshua, you notice that he also lived between love and resistance, between submission and rebellion, between family and loneliness. There is a time for everything, but everything is good if it is for HIM and the community, our people.

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