Teachings of Pesikta De-Rav Kahana
Commitment not Expression – God judges people’s merit not according to absolutes but according to the situation and level of the individual
What does God want from us? – How virtuous does God expect His people to be?Is one expected to live a passive or pro-active life of worshipping our God.
God desires to join the Jewish Community – In the Scriptures God urges the Jewish People to return to Him, but in fact it is God who actively desires to join the communityof His People.
Reward and Punishment – The Rabbis disputed whether God is exacting in meting out punishment. Does he pay us back exactly or mostly what we deserve?
Divine Punishment is Gradual– When a person sins God does not immediately mete out in full the punishment he deserves. Punishment comes in stages. After each stage God gives a person the chance to change his ways.