B"H
Friday, Iyar 7, 5783 (Hakhel Year) 22nd Sefirah / April 28, 2023
This Shabbat we read two Parshiot, Acharei& Kedoshim. These two Parshiot have a total of 79, of the 613 mitzvot in the Torah.
Our sages instruct us that we should observe the mitzvot not for the sake of their reward, only out of love for G-d. The same applies to the negative mitzvot which we are commanded to refrain from doing. We should obey G-d’s commandment not out of fear of their punishment, but as a result of our love for G-d. Nevertheless, we find in these two Parshiot that G-d promises reward for observing the mitzvot and punishment for disregarding them. Reward should not be the primary factor for doing the mitzvoth, but G-d rewards every mitzvah and good deed we perform.
In fact, believing that there is reward and punishment is one of the thirteen principles of our faith. However, the less one thinks about the reward when performing a mitzvah, the better the mitzvah is.
In the beginning of the third chapter of Pirkei Avot, which we will recite on Shabbat, the sage Akaviya ben Mahalalel gives us the following advice to help us refrain from committing sin and assist us to observe the mitzvot; “Know from where you come; to where you are going and before whom you are destined to give an accounting…before the Holy One, blessed be He.”
Knowing that everyone is destined to give an accounting for everyaction we perform during our life-time, should cause us to refrain from sin and to accomplish, in this world, as many mitzvot as possible.
Q. Why are angels not rewarded for performing G-d’s missions, yet, we get reward for doing mitzvot?
A. The Midrash gives the following parable; A king had a wine cellar full of barrels of rare and expensive wines. The king was afraid that robbers might attempt to steal his precious wine, he therefore hired special guards to guard the wine. Amongst the guards were also notorious alcoholics, who were also entrusted to safeguard the wine.
At the end of the month, the king ordered an inspection of the cellar and found that the barrels were intact and full of wine. He commanded that the guards be paid. However, he gave special instructions that the guards who were alcoholics should get double the salary.
“That is not fair,” protested the other guards. “Why should they get paid more, we all worked the same?”
The king replied, “No. You didn’t work the same. Can you imagine the self-restraint not to touch the wine these guards had to exercise every minute of the day. I paid them more for theirextra effort.”
The same is with reward for mitzvot. Angels have no temptations and performing their mission comes naturally to them. But we were created with temptations which we have to overcome. It is for this effortthat G-d gives us reward and the greater the effort, the greater the reward. Thus, when we perform a mitzvah and good deed, we stand spiritually much higher than an angel.
SHABBAT SHALOM
Montreal candle lighting time: 7:39 / Shabbat ends: 8:48