AboutGaddy Yaari Expertise What I do: I'll help you understand Hebrew phrases or single words, as well as answer questions about Jewish practices.
What I don't do: Tattoo translations. For that, try http://www.stars21.com/translator/english_to_hebrew.html
Experience I am a columnist for a Hebrew-language newspaper, and a graduate of the Jewish Theological Seminary.
Education/Credentials MBA
BA in the US,
Grade school and high school in Israel
In a response to a recent question about “grace,” you say “As you may know, the Christian understanding of what is meant by 'God's Grace' is very different from the Jewish meaning…” I am interested in the Jewish meaning and not the “Christianized” meaning of the Hebrew. It seems to me that “chen” and “chessed,” as used in the Torah are words closely associated with reciprocal relationships. It does not seem to me that either of these words conveys the idea of “unmerited favor.” Bruce Malina says “If ‘to give freely’ means to want nothing in return, then the God of Israel does not do this…” (Handbook of Biblical Social Values). Your thoughts?
Allen
Answer Allen,
My understanding of Chen and Chessed is similar to yours and to Malina's. The concept of "unmerited favor" is part of something that many scholars claim that Judaism doesn't have - theology. Unlike Christianity, Judaism is not a 'mystery' religion and thus does not require theology. Instead, it is based on mass-witnessed revelation (Mt. Sinai), observation and observance.
