Torah Tidbits

22 May 2012 / 1 Sivan 5772
Issue 955
Issue 955- Shabbat Parshat B'chukotai
May 19, 2011

Chizuk and Idud

CHIZUK-and-IDUD-for-Olim-not-yet-Olim-respectively

By Rabbi Yitzchak S. Handel Ph.D, Dean, Touro College in Israel

B’chukotai & Perek 4
Many meaningful interpretations have been presented by the commentators to the statement expressed by Shimon Ben Azai in Pirkei Avot (4;2) “For the reward of a Mitzva is a Mitzva.”
Two often quoted interpretations are expounded by Rabbeinu Ovadia MiBartenura as follows:
1) Heaven assists one who has performed one Mitzva to do another so that he will merit receiving rewards for both of them. (In his own earlier presentation of this concept, Rabbeinu Yona reminds us that the ultimate reward for the first Mitzva as well as for those that follow are in the future life, in Olam Haba).
2) The pleasure that one experiences from the rewards for doing one Mitzva is itself considered a separate Mitzva, and one is rewarded for both, for the original Mitzva performed and also for the enjoyment experienced for having performed it.
Perhaps one may say that a very different but meaningful explanation of Shimon Ben Azai’s statement can be found in the opening P’sukim of our Parsha: “If you will go in my Chukim and observe my Mitzvot and perform them, I will bring your rains in their appropriate time and the land will bring forth its produce and the fruit tree will give its fruit… You will dwell securely in your land, I will give peace in the land and you will lie down and no one will frighten you.” - Hashem is clearly telling us that if we all learn the Torah and observe the Mitzvot (and thereby spiritually elevate ourselves to come close to Him), He will enable us to dwell in our land, in Israel, in peace and He will provide for all our needs.
Does this sound like Shimon Ben Azai’s statement; The reward of a Mitzva is a Mitzva -  The reward for the observance of Mitzvot in this world is the ability to dwell in Israel which itself is a Mitzva, (and to go even further) which enables one to do more Mitzvot. What a Privilege!

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