If you wash a vegetable and eat it without drying it and it transmits tum’a, is that a punishment or a consequence? I think people are confusing two different issues here. R’ wallerstein was not addressing the addiction aspect of gambling in this shiur. He was talking about acquiring money through inappropriate actions and using the money for Torah. I don’t think it is argued that Torah institutions are not supposed to take money acquired through inappropriate means (if only). This is because of the ‘status’ of that money. R’ Wallerstein was saying that all the Torah and mitzvos you buy with that money (he singled out gambling as an example only) won’t give you zchusim in Torah. Is that a punishment? No, it is just the way it is. Germs spread sickness whether you knew they were there or not, tum’a spreads as well, whether you know it is there or not. The spiritual world is as real as ours and follows rules and cause and effect, not knowing about it does not prevent it from happening.
Menu