The "Once-Over"

         This week in Megillot, we looked at the different aspects of the Yirei Elokim. We had already learned about the Yirei Elokim's initial response to the Chacham, where he objects to the Chacham's methodology. This week we looked into his response more deeply and found a troubling controversy.

         In the beginning, the Yirei Elokim told the Chacham that he was using the wrong approach to wisdom: he is using his own knowledge and value systems instead of basing is off the Torah and G-d's wisdom. He also tells the Chacham that there is a deliberate system laid out, where man will be held accountable for all of his actions after he dies. The Chacham argues that this is terribly unjust, because if man is only be held accountable in the next world, then he won't know to stop sinning because he isn't punished in this world.

         By analyzing the Yirei Elokim's responses so far, we find the controversy spoken about before. In Perek 5, the Yirei Elokim told the Amal that there is a partnership between man and G-d. He also said that ultimately, G-d is in control and uses His משפט in this world.

          Wait, wait, wait. Hold on just a second. What? Did the Yirei Elokim say that G-d judges man in THIS world? When he responded to the Chacham in Perek 8, he said that G-d judges every action and holds everyone accountable when they die, in the NEXT world. WHAT IS GOING ON??!?!?

         Mrs. Perl explained to us the situation. In this world, there is a partnership between man and G-d. However, since man cannot implement justice and create a perfect society, there are holes in the judgement that occurs. You can't see G-d's involvement, the punishments are physical, not miraculous, and there are collective punishments. If a man sinned, he would be punished with bad crops, no rain, etc. Since G-d didn't make it only rain on one man's land, it was a collective punishment.

         However, there is the next world. And in the next world, there is no partnership with G-d. Man is held accountable for every sin he has ever done. Nothing falls through the holes!

          Being judged does not usually give people a good feeling. When you walk into a room and you're given the "once-over" by other people, you tend to feel self-conscious. You can FEEL them judging you. I find that more people are worried about being judged in this world then in the next world. They're more worried about being judged by others than being judged by G-d. I think this is completely backwards. Somehow, people need to realize that being judged by G-d is way more important than being judged by other people.