Parshas V’eschanan
The Power of a Simple Mitzveh!
“Ben Azzai says: Run to perform a “minor” mitzvah as you run to perform a “major” one. Flee from sin for one mitzvah leads to another mitzvah and one sin leads to another sin and the reward for a mitzvah is a mitzvah, and the consequence of a sin is a sin.” (Avos 4:2)
Once, a ba’al teshuvah told Rav Yechezkel Abramsky zt”l that he only observed those mitzvos which he could understand. He did not appreciate the meaning of wearing tefillin, therefore he did not wear them. He asked Rav Abramsky zt”l to give him an explanation for this mitzvah which would inspire him to perform the mitzvah. Rav Abramsky zt”l told the man to wear the tefillin daily for two months, after which he would explain the basis for the mitzvah of tefillin. Two months passed but the ba’al teshuvah did not return to hear the explanation. Some time later, Rav Abramsky zt”l happened to meet this man and asked him why he had not returned after the two months. The man replied, “After I began putting on tefillin, I began to feel the power and greatness of this mitzvah. Thus, I had no reason to search for an explanation.” (Talelei Oros by Rabbi Yissachar Dov Rubin)
In Pirkei Avos (4:2) Ben Azzai said that one should run to perform even a so-called “minor” mitzvah for “one mitzvah leads to another mitzvah”. Any mitzvah that we do has a remarkable impact on us. Even a mitzvah that we think is a “minor “mitzvah (Ran and Rambam, Avos 2:1) or even one that is enjoyable and easy to do (Tiferes Yisroel) is significant. Why? Rashi explains that the performance of any mitzvah “unleashes a spiritual chain reaction”, presenting one with even more opportunities to do a mitzvah. Rabbeinu Yonah adds that this “domino effect” causes mitzvos to become habitual.
Ben Azzai continues that the “reward for a mitzvah is a mitzvah”. Rashi explains that Hashem rewards the mitzvah with the opportunity to do another mitzvah, thus giving you greater spiritual reward. HaChassid Yaavetz explains that the greatest reward for a mitzvah is the mitzvah itself. The opportunity to come closer to Hashem through the performance of a mitzvah is the greatest reward anyone could possibly receive.
The opposite holds true as well. The performance of a sin, even a seemingly “minor” one, makes an impact. It can lead to more sins. Each sin dulls the conscience and makes the following sin easier to do. This is generally the strategy of the Evil Inclination. The Evil Inclination entices us to do a “small” sin. One sin leads to another, and the Evil Inclination then tries to get us to do a “major” sin. The Evil Inclination’s strategy is like the allegory of a frog placed in a pot of water. The premise is that if a frog is put, suddenly, into boiling water, it will jump out. However, if the frog is put in warm water which is then brought to a boil slowly, it will not perceive the danger and will be cooked to death. Similarly, the Evil Inclination will encourage us to do more “minor” sins and, before we know it, we fall prey to doing “major” sins.
Because of the great importance and effects that are attached to every mitzvah or sin, the Mishna in Avos exhorts us to “run” to perform even a “minor” mitzvah and “flee” from transgressing any sin.
The Rambam says that when the opportunity to perform a mitzvah presents itself, we should do it immediately! We see this illustrated in this week’s parsha. Moshe Rabbeinu set aside three cities on the east side of the Jordan River to serve as cities of refuge for those who killed unintentionally (Devarim 4:41). These cities would not be functional until after the establishment of the rest of the cities of the refuge in Eretz Yisroel.
Moshe’s love of mitzvos was so great! He knew that an unintentional murderer would not be admitted to the three cities of refuge that were in the east bank of the Jordan until the three cities of refuge that were in the land of Eretz Yisroel were established. He knew that his designation of cities of refuge would have no practical ramifications in his lifetime. Nevertheless, he felt that when there was a mitzvah that had come his way, he should fulfill it, as best as possible (Talmud – Makos 10A).
(based on The Pirkei Avos Treasury by Rabbi Moshe Lieber)
