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<DIV><FONT style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" face=Arial color=#000000 size=2>>> ...It's not a matter of the Rambam's correctness, it's<BR>a
matter of the usability of his position given where we stand. And I<BR>was
saying that for most of us, this position doesn't fit.<BR><BR>My problem with
the Rambam is more the Shuby question... Personally, I<BR>am incapable of
believing that a person with Downs, who is capable of an<BR>incredible emunah
peshutah (he doesn't reason his way out of believing<BR>that G-d is as real as a
person he never met) but less compehension,<BR>actually not only gets a harder
olam hazeh, but less hana'ah miziv<BR>haShechinah when it's all over. I can't do
it, because my son Shuby<BR>makes me nogei'ah bedavar, but I still think the
objection is sound. <<<BR><BR><BR>-- <BR>Micha
Berger
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<DIV>>>>>></DIV>
<DIV>You have touched on this before, but it's still not clear to me. Does
the Rambam actually say or imply that only intellectually superior people go to
olam haba or to the highest level of olam haba?</DIV>
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<DIV>The confusion to me is that Shuby's brain may be limited but surely his
neshama is not limited? Assuming that he fulfills all the mitzvos he is
able to the best of his understanding and ability in this world, surely
his neshama will not have "less hana'ah miziv haShechinah when it's all
over"? </DIV>
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<DIV>You know the famous story, "You won't be asked, 'Why weren't you the Vilna
Gaon?' You will be asked, 'Why weren't you Zusha?' "</DIV>
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<DIV>Does the Rambam hold that you /will/ be asked, "Why weren't you the Vilna
Gaon?" even if your IQ was fifty points lower than the Gaon's?
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<DIV>(The average Jewish IQ is 110 and the Gaon's was at least 160, probably
higher.) (Yes I know that the average IQ on Avodah is higher than 110 but
it's still way lower than the Gaon's!) </DIV>
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<DIV><FONT color=#0000ff><BR></FONT><FONT color=#0000ff><STRONG>--Toby
Katz<BR>==========</STRONG><FONT color=#000000> </FONT><BR><BR></FONT><FONT lang=0 face=Arial color=#000000 size=2 FAMILY="SANSSERIF" PTSIZE="10">--------------------</FONT></DIV>
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