Posted on March 8, 2021
Shalom TBAY!
Wondering what we discussed this past Shabbat? Here is a link to Friday night’s D’Var Torah: The Golden Calf of Today.
On Shabbat morning, we discussed God’s 13 Attributes of mercy: that God will exact punishment for sins on the children through the third and fourth generations. You can find the Source Sheet here. Some questions we considered were: Is this a positive thing or a negative thing? Is it good that God remembers transgressions only for 4 generations but goodness for 2,000? Who is actually punished? The original sinners? The generations only if they follow it? (Maimonides notes that the 4th generation is as far as the parent can know so this exacts the greatest meaningful pain on the sinner.) What types of sins deserve this? Intentional? Unintentional? Only idolatry? What do you think?
Shavua Tov!
— Rabbi Rubin : )