Please click on the image below to download a printable PDF version
THE WEEKLY SIDRA- AIKEV
Rabbi Moshe Greebel
The reward for the fulfillment of Mitzvos alas, is not one that is granted in this physical dimension of existence. This principle can be seen from the Gemarah Kiddushin 39b:
“Rava said, ‘This latter agrees with Rav Ya’akov, who said. “There is no reward for Mitzvos in this world.”’ For it was taught that Rav Ya’akov said, ‘There is not a single Mitzvah in the Torah whose reward is (stated) at its side, which is not dependent on the resurrection of the dead.’”
Rashi there, explains this last statement to mean:
“Which is not dependent on the resurrection of the dead…. Concerning the giving of that reward. It is to inform you that the giving of that reward only occurs in Olam HaBa’ah (world to come).”
However, reward for Mitzvos not given in this present world, does seem to beg the question so many M’forshim (commentaries) posed throughout the years. If HaShem withholds the reward for Mitzvos, does He in His own way Chas V’Shalom, not violate the following precept?
“You shall not defraud your neighbor, nor rob him; the wages of he who is hired shall not remain with you all night until the morning.” (Vayikra 1`9:13)
Withholding the wages from the hired is a direct prohibition from the Torah. Why would the reward for fulfilling Mitzvos not be directly given in this world? For a rather unique answer to this question, we turn to the Chasam Sofer (Rabbi Moshe Sofer [Schreiber] of Pressburg 1762- 1839) of blessed memory, in his text Toras Moshe.
The first Passuk (verse) of this week’s Sidra begins:
“Therefore it shall come to pass, because you will assuredly give heed to these judgments, and keep them and do them, that HaShem your G-d shall keep with you the covenant and the mercy which He swore to your fathers.” (D’varim 7:12)
Oddly enough, posed the Chasam Sofer, if we turn our attentions to the Midrash D’varim Rabbah 3-1 on the above Passuk, we find:
“Halachah: Is it permissible for a Jew who possesses a candelabrum fitted together from separate parts, to move it about on Shabbos? The Chachamim have learned thus, ‘One who (unconsciously) puts together the parts of a candelabrum on Shabbos, renders himself liable for a Chatas (sin-offering in the time of a Bais HaMikdash)…..’”
Prior to addressing the question of moving the candelabrum about, the Midrash first speaks of the violation of HaBoneh (constructing) on Shabbos, which was committed through assembling the candelabrum. In the times of a Bais HaMikdash, a Chatas would have been brought by the violator.
Yet, one way or the other, questioned the Chasam Sofer, what has all this to do with the first Passuk of this week’s Sidra? What possible connection could our Chachamim have had in mind, when they spoke of a candelabrum fitted together on Shabbos, and ‘Because you will assuredly give heed’?
Now, continued the Chasam Sofer, the above Gemarah seems to strongly suggest that reward does not come to man each time he performs a Mitzvah, but rather, when he has performed the full allotment of Mitzvos that life will allow. Only after death, will the full reward be granted. This is to say, each of the Mitzvos and Ma’asim Tovim (good deeds) of his life, are parts and sections of the totality of his true reward, which will come only after passing from this corporeal existence.
And so, goes on the Chasam Sofer, that is why our Chachamim in the Midrash spoke of a candelabrum fitted together. Only when the assembly was complete, could the object be referred to as a candelabrum- not prior, when it was in pieces. So too, can true reward not be given, until each and every of the Mitzvos and Ma’asim Tovim are present and accounted for- not prior. Hence, HaShem does not violate ‘The wages of he who is hired shall not remain with you all night,’ and, our question is resolved.
Yet, there is more, according to the Chasam Sofer. In the first Passuk of this week’s Sidra, we see the expression, ‘Because you will assuredly give heed,’ which in LaShon HaKodesh is ‘Aikev Tishm’un.’ Now, as we have seen so many times, words in LaShon HaKodesh have multiple meanings. Not only does the word Aikev translate into ‘assuredly,’ it translates as well into ‘heel.’ Ya’akov for example, is named for holding his brother’s heel at birth. This translation can be seen from the words of Rashi:
“Because you will assuredly give heed ….. That is, the simple Mitzvos, which a man normally treads upon with his heel, to those you must listen!”
Basically then, taught the Chasam Sofer, the heel is the very end of the human body, and signifies to us that true reward for Mitzvos and Ma’asim Tovim comes only at the very conclusion of life, not prior. There is a recurring theme here among the words of our Chachamim, of ending, conclusion, finality, and full accounting.
And so, it benefits no one to think of this world as the setting for the true reward for Mitzvos and Ma’asim Tovim. While this physical existence is quite capable of distracting the eye and mind from the true path, it is nevertheless, not large enough a space, in which can be contained the Arichas Shulchan (the setting of the table of future reward), the true remuneration of Mitzvos and Ma’asim Tovim. And, that true recompense can only be tallied when the full life measure of Mitzvos and Ma’asim Tovim are concluded- not before. Let us all learn well, to make the best of our time.
May we soon see the G'ulah Sh'laimah in its complete resplendency- and in our times.
Good Shabbos.
The National Council of Young Israel's Divrei Torah Bulletin is a weekly newsletter. If you'd like to receive our weekly e-newsletter with the Parshat Hashavua, Click here to sign up!
