Thursday, Iyar 10, 5785 (25th day of the Omer) / May 7, 2025

This Shabbat we read the two Parshiot, Parshat Acharei Mot& Kedoshimtogether.

Many of the 613 mitzvot of the Torah are recorded in these two Parshiot. In these two Parshiot, the Torah uses the expression, “I am G-d,” many times. Our sages explain it to mean that G-d reminds us that Hewill rewardfor the performance of the Mitzvot and, G-d forbid, punishfor transgressing them.

Although our sages instruct us that we should observe G-d’s commandments not for the sake of reward, rather out of love for G-d, still, G-d promises reward for observing the mitzvot. Reward should not be the primary factor for doing a mitzvah, but G-d does reward every good deed we perform. The less one thinks about the reward when performing a mitzvah, the more the reward will be.

In the beginning of the third chapter of Pirkei Avot, 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 lifetime, will cause us to refrain from sin and to accomplish, in this world, as many mitzvot as possible.

Q. Why are only people, not angels, rewarded for performing G-d’s commandments?

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 wines, he therefore hired guards to safeguard the wine. Amongst the guards were also notorious alcoholics.

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 pay. 

“It’s not fair,” protested the other guards. “Why did they get paid more than us, we all worked the same?”

The king replied, “No. You didn’t work the same.  Can you imagine the self-restraint these guards had to exercise not to touch the wine.  I paid them more for theirextra effort.”

The same is with the reward for mitzvot.  Angels have no temptations and performing their mission comes naturally to them.  But we, humans, were created with temptations which we have to overcome.  For this effort G-d gives us reward and the greater the effort, the greater the reward. 

Our sages say that when we perform a mitzvah and good deed, we stand spiritually much higher than an angel.

HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY

OUR HEARTS ARE WITH OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN CAPTIVITY - MAY THEY ALL BE RELEASED NOW