Re: Probability
Altman, Ben (ALTMANB@anz.com)
Thu, 14 Aug 1997 09:07:00 +1000
Bart Stall wrote:
>Lets say that Mr. X plays the lottery or games of chance... As a Frum Jew(I
>know that gambling is prohibited) He buys x amount of lottery tickets..
>Usually the more tickets, the better his 'odds' of winning... But what about
>the people who buy just one ticket... These people say that 'If Hashem wants
>me to win, I only need one ticket'..
>This seems to be a contradiction... And this is the part that is
>fascinating... look.... There seems to be two 'schools' here.... 1. Hashem's
>law that He knows all and He controls EVERYTHING.. 2. Hashems law of
>PROBABILITY...
>They don't seem to jive with each other.. If he only buys one ticket, he is
>subscribing to law #1.. Have faith in Hashem and He will make it happen if
>it is to be... And not subscribing to Hashem's law of Probablitly and
>Statistics... If he does the opposite it 'seems' like he is trying to
>"outsmart" Hashem and increase his 'odds' of winning...Does he buy x+y
>amount of tickets and then he will 'change' Hashem's mind?? I am anxious to
>hear other responses and opinions.. Kol Tuv...
Since most people must put in some effort in getting a livlihood, buying a
lottery ticket (so I heard) is a valid 'hishtadlus' (effort) in this area.
HaShem (=G-d) proportions a certain amount of money to each person, and
does not specify that a person work all the time to get it. Ie. it is in
part up to that person and his trust in HaShem that decides how much effort
he puts in to getting his livlihood. For some people that maybe a decision
whether or not to work overtime for others it maybe something less than
that or more.
Binyomin Altman