17 May THE REWARD FOR FAITH

The Gemara in Masechet Kiddushin teaches us, אמלע†יאהב†הוצמ†רכש†אכיל†– the reward for observing mitzvot comes not in this world, but rather in the next world.

Commentators raised the question of how Hashem can delay our reward to the next world. After all, there is a command in the Torah forbidding an employer from delaying payment to his worker. If somebody was hired to work for a day, the employer is required by the Torah to pay the worker right away, at the end of the day (unless the worker agrees to a different arrangement). How, then, can Hashem delay our “payment” for our mitzvot until after we depart from this world? Why doesn’t He repay us for our “work” immediately?

Some commentators answer this question based on the distinction drawn in halachah between workers hired directly by the employer, and workers hired by the employer’s agent. An employer is required to pay workers immediately only if he hired them directly. But if he appointed someone – like a manager – to hire the workers on his behalf, then he is not required to pay them right away at the end of the day.

We were “hired” to perform the mitzvot by Hashem’s agent – Moshe Rabbenu. He is the one who taught us the mitzvot. Therefore, Hashem does not pay us right away for the mitzvot we perform. We receive our “wages” only in the next world.

However, there are two commands which we heard directly from Hashem at Mount Sinai†–†the†first†two†of†the†Ten†CommandmentsƆThese are the command of ךיקולא†’ה†יכונא†– believing in Hashem – and the prohibition of םירחא†םיהולא†ךל†היהי†אל†– not to worship other gods. These mitzvot were heard from Hashem directly when He revealed Himself at Mount Sinai. Therefore, Hashem rewards us for obeying these commands – for having faith in Him – immediately, in this world. We will not have to wait to be rewarded for our emunah (faith).

However, we must remember what emunah means – that we place our faith only in Hashem, and not in any other “gods.” It means that we place our faith only in Him, and not in our boss, our business, a client, a product, an investment, our intelligence, our talents¨†our†skills¨†a†political†figure¨†or†anything or anyone else. It means relying solely and exclusively on Hashem. If we do this, then we are rewarded immediately, right away.

This explains the promise made by Hashem in Parashat Behar of the reward for observing the mitzvah of shemittah. Every seven years, farmers are to refrain from working the land, and leave all the produce for anyone who wants it. Observing this mitzvah requires a great deal of emunah – trusting that Hashem will take care of them even though they will “close the shop” for an entire year, and let anyone who wants come and take the “merchandise” for free. Hashem promises that if Beneh Yisrael observe this mitzvah, then He will reward them with great prosperity, and the land will produce extra food. In reward for our emunah, we are rewarded right away.

Although we do not observe the mitzvah of shemittah here in the United States, its message is no less relevant to us than it is to farmers in Israel. Even though we can and should work hard to earn a living, we need to always remember that Hashem alone gives us everything we have, and we should be relying on Him, and only Him, at all times. We need to place our trust in Him, and not in any other “g-ds,” and rely on His promise of reward even in this world for our emunah.