By Rabbi Shimmy Sternfield
(וְהיָהָ עקֵֶב תִּשְׁמְעוּן אֵת הַמִּשְׁפָּטִים הָאלֵהֶּ וּשְׁמַרְתֶּם וַעֲשִׂיתֶם אתָֹם” (פרק ז’, פסוק י”ב”
“It shall be, in exchange for that which you will listen to these laws, and you will guard and keep them…” This week’s פָּרָשָׁה begins with a long list of blessings that Hashem promises us, “In exchange for that which you will listen to these laws…” The אלשיך הקַָדושֹׁ” asks, why does the Torah encourage us to keep the מִצוְתֹ in order to receive Hashem’s blessings? Don’t חז”ל teach that one should not serve Hashem עַל מְנתַ לקְַבלֵּ פרְָּס, in order to receive reward? The ספֵֶר אַפִּרְיוֹן (written by the author of the קִיצוּר שלֻׁחְָן עָרוּך) cites a גמְרָָא with the same apparent difficulty. The גמְרָָא relates that, when רַביִּ זיֵרָא felt too weak to learn, he would sit at the entrance of the בֵּית מדְִרשָׁ. He said, “This way, I can receive reward for standing up for the חכֲמִָים when they arrive.” Again, the same question arises. How could רַביִּ זיֵרָא honor the חכֲמִָים in order to receive שָכׂרָ? The אַפִּרְיוֹן records an answer based on the following הַלכָהָ : The שלֻׁחְָן עָרוּך rules that, although one may not receive payment to testify in בֵּית דִין, one may receive payment for traveling to see something so that one will then be able, and required, to bear witness regarding that event. The same is true, writes the, אַפִּרְיוֹן regarding מִצוְהָ performance. One is given שָכׂרָ not only for doing a מִצוְהָ, but also for putting oneself in a situation that will cause him/her to be obligated to do a מִצוְהָ as well. Although one should not perform a מִצוְהָ for the sake of being rewarded, it is acceptable for one to cause oneself to be obligated in מִצוְהָ performance with the intention of being rewarded. Accordingly, רַביִּ זיֵרָא meant that he would receive reward for going to the entrance of the בֵּית מדְִרשָׁ, thereby obligating himself to honor the חכֲמִָים as they arrived. Noting the use of the word “עקֵֶב” in the פָּסוּק, the אַפִּרְיוֹן suggests that we may apply the same answer to our פָּרָשָׁה. In context, this word means “in exchange for.” However, the word “עקֵֶב” also means “heel,” which is a clear allusion to walking or going somewhere. Perhaps, writes the אַפִּרְיוֹן, the Torah uses this word so that we apply both definitions, interpreting the פָּסוּק as follows: “It shall be that in exchange for going to make yourself obligated to listen to these laws, and you will guard and keep them [you will merit the blessings of Hashem].”
