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Bechukotai #2
Bechukotai
The torah (26;3-13) relates all the rewards we will receive if we perform Hashem's commandments.
The Toras Cohanim (perek 2;5--quoted by Rashi, 26;9) relates the following parable: There was once a king who had a lot of workers. The king had one worker who had worked for him for a long period of time. One day all of the king's workers approached him to collect their wages. The king payed all of his workers except for the one who had worked for him for a long time. His reasoning was that he had owed all of his others workers a small amount of money, but to him he owed a substantial amount. Similarly, the Toras Cohanim states that the jews along with all the other nations of the world will request rewards from Hashem in this world. Hashem will then pay all the nations except the jews, to which he owes a substantial amount and will hold back payment until the World to Come.
However, if all our rewards won't come until the World to Come, why did the torah need to mention them here? There's no need for us to know about our future rewards in this world!?!
Additionally, how does the parable make sense? The worker that was owed the most should have been payed first-not last!?! The Halacha states that a worker must be payed on his day of work!?! How could the king go against the law?
Thirdly, Rashi (26;3) states that the words "If you will go in my statues" refers to laboring in torah. However, if so, that means that learning torah is the basis for all the rewards mentioned (26; 3-13)! Why are all the rewards dependent upon laboring in torah?
Fourthly, Rashi (26;10) relates that one of the blessings is that all the old crops will need to be moved out of the storehouses for new crops to be brought in. However, why does Hashem give us so many crops if we can't eat everything!?! Why must He waste crops?!?
Fifthly, the Mishna (Pirkei Avos, 1;3) states that we shouldn't serve Hashem for the sake of reward. Therefore, why does the torah state all the rewards we'll receive?
Sixthly, Rabbi Moshe Chaim Luzzato (Mesillat Yesharim) writes that we should look foward to receiving reward. However, how could he say that if the Mishna (Pirkei Avos, 1;3) states that we shouldn't serve Hashem for the sake of reward?!?
Rabbi Yochanan Zweig explains that Hashem only gives us reward because He promised it to us-not because He owes us, as He created us.
The Mishna (Pirkei Avos, 1;3) therefore says that we shouldn't serve Hashem for the sake of reward because He doesn't owe us anything. However, we should still be aware that were going to receive reward so the torah therefore tells us all the rewards were going to receive. The point of the Mishna (Pirkei Avos, 1;3) is to teach us that Hashem never owes us reward.
Rabbi Zweig explains that when one learns torah they show that that they know Hashem created them. Therefore, since they know Hashem owns them they don't perform the mitzvos for the sake of reward. Thus, Rabbi Zweig explains that all the rewards are based on learning torah for by performing that mitzva they show awareness that Hashem doesn't owe them anything.
Further, Rabbi Zweig explains that the worker who was owed the most didn't get paid because jews are supposed to feel like they are Hashem's servants, as He created and owns us. Therefore, we are unable to demand anything of Him, no matter how much we are owed. Thus, the worker who was owed the most (the jew) was the only one who didn't get paid.
Even further, Rabbi Zweig explains that Hashem gave us extra crops, even though a lot would go to a waste, because He gives us what He wants to give us-not what we want. By giving us a surplus amount of crops Hashem was showing us love.
Lastly, Rabbi Zweig answers that all our rewards are written here because were affirming that this is His world and that we are His servants. By writing all the rewards in the torah we show belief in the fact that Hashem created the world and therefore doesn't owe us anything.
Summary: The torah (26;3-13) relates all the rewards we will receive if we perform Hashem's commandments. Rabbi Yochanan Zweig explains that Hashem only gives us reward because He promised it to us-not because He owes us, as He created us. The torah nevertheless tells us all the rewards because that shows that we have belief in the fact that Hashem created the world and therefore doesn't owe us anything.
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