By Shalom Olensky
This week in the Torah:
A depiction of bountiful material reward for fulfilling the Torah and its Commandments.
Question:
Why does the Torah talk of material reward for Torah observance? One would think that the Torah would rather depict spirituality as the best reward.
Answer:
Torah speaks to the majority of mankind, who must resort to physically pleasing motivations as reward for Torah observance. Torah encourages people to observe the Torah even for an ulterior motive.
Questions:
- How can we answer the above question in a way that will find the Torah this week speaking to the fully righteous as well as the beginners?
- The commentators on this week in the Torah explain the aforementioned depiction of reward as a continuation of the discussion of the deeply observant and tirelessly devoted. What relevance then does physical recompense hold for them so that they are told of this?
Answer:
Reward for religious devotion comes commensurate to the mode of service. If the righteous were only to be spiritually rewarded, this would signify that their service did not permeate every fiber of their physical being as well. When the Torah talks of physical reward, it has those that are completely devoted, physically as well, in mind.
(Based on Likkutei Sichos Vol. 37, Bechukosai)
