Category Archives: Soul

Parsha [Passage of Scripture] Nugget [Precious Idea] Re’eh – Deuteronomy 11:26-16:17

Here’s the problem. Despite G-d promising to bless us if we act according to His dictates, most of us have nothing like the kind of wealth the typical Israelite possessed at the time the tribes entered the Land of Israel. So if, as Parshas Re’eh asserts, we chose between blessing and curse, how come we get the second one but not the first? We need to get to the heart of how a blessed life works:

“See, I place before you today, a blessing and a curse.” (Deuteronomy/Devarim 11:26)

This Sabbath’s parsha reveals G-d’s imminent blessing and curse, the holiness of the Land of Israel, more about how the Children of Israel will be required to conduct themselves there, how to respond to a false prophet and a person who entices another to go astray, what it means to be G-d’s treasured people, tithes, forgiving loans, being generous with one’s fellow, how a slave is to be treated, and the three pilgrimage festivals.

Clearly how closely you follow the Almighty appears to have no impact on the wealth you’ll have, otherwise, there would be no pious poor people. Likewise, living by the mitzvahs or commandments doesn’t inoculate you from the tragedies of life.

So why bother doing what G-d wants?

First, the Talmud is absolutely clear that the reward for performing mitzvahs (a.k.a. commandments) is not in this world but in Olam Haba, the world to come. Leading a good life requires, at least at times, delaying gratification.

More relevant for your life, the blessing for a mitzvah is being able to do the mitzvah itself. Virtue is its own reward. Don’t believe me? Consider an example.

Anyone who has spent time around the military knows many tales of marital disharmony. Anguish besets all involved, service members, spouses, and children. Yet people persist in foolish notions like “what happens on deployment stays on deployment.”

In contrast, the Creator requires mutual respect between a husband and wife. Neither is supposed to speak to the other harshly. Each should support the other in fulfilling their duty. Husbands should not idly chat with a woman who is not a member of his family. A married person must not be alone with someone of the opposite gender, who is not a member of his or her family if no one can see into the room or walk in at any time.

What does the evidence say about the effectiveness of these two systems? It is well known that in the United States over 50% of marriages end in divorce. The same is true in the military and among all Jews. But in communities where doing mitzvahs is a way of life the divorce rate is below 10%. Now you may argue this is because divorce is frowned upon so people stay unhappily married. But are 40% of married couples unhappy and desirous of a divorce but too afraid to get one? Evidence suggests people in such communities work hard to form their marriage in the image G-d has for such unions by attending marriage enrichment classes, performing rituals that enhance intimacy and respect, and habituating practices that support a solid, high-quality relationship.

In a very real way, you receive G-d’s blessing of an enduring, pleasurable marriage when you conduct it according to His demands. The mitzvahs are indeed their own reward.

Is it worth living a good life in this world in order to gain Heaven? Please comment below.

Every year beginning on Simchas Torah, the cycle of reading the Torah, the first five books of the Bible, ends and begins again. Each Sabbath a portion known as a sedra or parsha is read. It is named after the first significant word or two with which this weekly reading begins.

What verse in the Old Testament would you like to know more about? Ask a question and I will answer it in a future Parsha Nugget!