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BabylonianTalmud, Baba Batra 10a

 

תלמוד בבלי, בבא בתרא י.

Original Text:

היה רבי מאיר אומר, יש לו לבעל הדין להשיבך ולומר לך: אם אלהיכם אוהב עניים הוא, מפני מה אינו מפרנסן? אמור לו: כדי שניצול אנו בהן מדינה של גיהנם.

Translation:

R. Meir used to say: The critic [of Judaism] may bring against you the argument, ‘If your God loves the poor, why does God not support them?’ If so, answer him, ‘So that through them we may be saved from the punishment of Gehinnom [Hell].’
[Hartman translation]

Suggested Discussion Questions:

1. In what way do acts of justice help us?
2. What would our relationships with others be like if we expected God to provide for anyone who needed help?
3. From whose perspective is R. Meir speaking? Is it fair to assume that some will suffer so that others may save them? How does this affect our understanding of suffering?

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    Related Texts:
    BabylonianTalmud, Baba Batra 10a
    Related Sourcesheets:Texts on Social Change v. Social Action, Dei Machsoro, Labor Day, 2009

    Submitted By

    Sarah Margles

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