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THE WEEKLY SIDRA- NITZAVIM- VAYELECH
Rabbi Moshe Greebel
From a purely academic perspective, there is more reward for performing a Mitzvah which one is commanded, than for performing a Mitzvah which one is not commanded. Illustrating this principle, the Gemaros in Bava Kama 38a and Avoda Zara 3a speak of a situation of a gentile studying Torah, a Mitzvah that he was never commanded to keep, and the status of his reward for doing so.
Later on in Bava Kama 87a, we find the opinion of Rabbi Y’huda, concerning a blind person who is not obligated to perform Mitzvos. If he does perform Mitzvos in any event, what is the status of his reward? The dictum of Rabbi Chanina is brought down in all of the above three cases as an answer:
“…..For Rabbi Chanina has stated, ‘Greater is the reward of those who have been enjoined to do Mitzvos, than of those who have not been enjoined (but merely out of free will) to do Mitzvos.’”
Now, while all this is very informative, the above Gemaros, for some reason, do not discuss the source in the Torah of Rabbi Chanina’s statement. Interestingly enough, according to the text Pardes Yosef, the source of the above statement is found in this week’s Sidra, in which the Mitzvah of Hakhel (gathering all Yisroel in Y’rushalayim) in the eighth year on Sukkos is discussed:
“And Moshe commanded them, saying, ‘At the end of every seven years, in the Sh’mitah (end of seventh) year, in the Feast of Sukkos. When all Yisroel has come to appear before HaShem your G-d in the place which He shall choose, you (the king) shall read this Torah before all Yisroel in their hearing. Gather the people together, men, and women, and children, and your stranger who is inside your gates, that they may hear, and that they may learn, and fear HaShem your G-d, and take care to do all the words of this Torah.’” (D’varim 31:10-12)
Concerning ‘Gather the people together, men, and women, and children,’ Rashi, citing the Gemarah in Chagiga 3a, poses the following in the name of Rabbi Elazar Ben Azarya:
“If the men came to learn, the women came to hear, why did the little ones have to come? In order to grant reward to those who bring them.”
And, concerning this statement of Rabbi Elazar Ben Azarya, Rabbi Y’hoshua stated in the M’chilta (Bo):
“Happy may you be Avraham Avinu, that Rabbi Elazar Ben Azarya is to emerge from your loins.”
Now then, posed the Pardes Yosef, what is the relationship of this adage of Avraham Avinu to Rabbi Elazar’s statement? To comprehend this, we must revert back to the Gemarah in Chagiga 3a, where the question ‘Why did the little ones have to come?’ is in reality, not so clear. For in Pirkei Avos 2-5, we read:
“Happy may he be, who has sired Rabbi Y’hoshua Ben Chananya.”
And, in the Y’rushalmi Y’vamos, we see the reason for this happiness, is that Rabbi Y’hoshua was literally infused with Torah, since his mother would bring his cradle (which held the baby Rabbi Y’hoshua) into the Bais HaMidrash (study hall of the Yeshiva) every day.
Now then, posed the Pardes Yosef, from the above incident, we see that it is our custom for children who are not yet obligated in Mitzvos, to perform them in any event. If so, why did the Gemarah in Chagiga 3a surprisingly ask, “Why did the little ones have to come?” Of course, they would have come, since it is our custom to acquaint them with Mitzvos as early as possible. In answer, the Pardes Yosef cited Rav Y’huda Ben Eliezer HaLaivi Mintz of Mayence (15th century), of blessed memory.
In truth, since all men and women will attend on Hakhel, it stands to reason that they will bring their children, as ostensibly, there is no adult to baby sit back home. The Gemarah was not simply asking why there was a need for children to come, because it is our custom to educate children even in those Mitzvos to which they are not obligated. Rather, the Gemarah was really asking why was there a need for the Torah to create a separate Tsav (commandment) to bring children, if they will be brought in any event? And, the answer for this separate Tsav is ‘To grant reward to those who bring them.’ That is, the Tsav is for the bringers, who are commanded to be there, and not for the children, who are not.
It is from here then, the source, that we learn the principle stated by Rabbi Chanina of ‘Greater is the reward of those who have been enjoined to do Mitzvos, than of those who have not been enjoined (but merely out of free will) to do Mitzvos.’ The additional Tsav therefore, is not for the children who are not obligated, but for the adults who are.
One question remains. What is the relationship of all this to the language in the M’chilta of ‘Happy may you be Avraham Avinu?”
Rav Y’huda answered that even though Avraham could have circumcised himself prior to HaShem commanding him to do so, he waited for the command of HaShem. Why? Because, ‘Greater is the reward of those who have been enjoined to do Mitzvos, than of those who have not been enjoined (but merely out of free will) to do Mitzvos.’
Good Shabbos.
A K'siva VaChasima Tova! A Happy and Healthy New Year!
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