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Rivka Schuman
Mrs Rivka Schuman, a teacher for many years at Machon Gold is our new Director of Educational Programming. Her exceptional enthusiasm and her unwaving belief in each students' potential serve as the foundations of her educational philosophy. She works with the Rosh Midrasha to foster Machon Golds' atmosphere of serious committment to Torah study combined with an emphasis on individial growth in Mitzvot and Middot. In addition to teaching a variety of shiurim in Tanach, Mussar and Tefilla, Mrs Schuman is responsible for the organisation of all Chesed and special educational programs. She is a graduate of Stern College and holds an MA in Jewish Educational Administration from the Azrieli Graduate School of Yeshiva University. Prior to her aliyah, she taught at SAR Academy in NY and was the principal of the Riverdale Jewish Center Hebrew School. Mrs Schuman and her family live in Kochav Hashachar
Service with a Smile
We say the Shema twice every day. In the second paragraph we say:
והיה אם שמוע תשמעו את מצותי...ונתתי מטר ארצכם בעיתם...ואספת דגניך
If you observe the Mitzvot then…I will send dew to your land at the right time…and you will harvest your crop.
Hashem promises us that if we keep the Mitzvot then we will be physically rewarded in this world.
This almost sounds like an unfair deal. Why should we receive a physical reward in this world for a spiritual action? The ultimate reward comes in the world to come. Any reward that we receive in this world diminishes from the ultimate reward in the eternal world, עולם הבא. As חז"ל teach us, שכר מצוה בהאי עלמא ליכא. There is no appropriate reward in this world for doing a Mitzvah.
We are taught that שכר מצוה מצוה; the ultimate reward for doing a Mitzvah is the opportunity to do more Mitzvot. This idea is hinted at in the words from Shema above. והיה אם שמוע, if we listen [to Hashem and follow the Mitzvot] then, תשמעו we will merit to hear more. The Mishna in Avot teaches us מצוה גוררת מצוה. One Mitzvah leads to the opportunity to do many more Mitzvot. There is no mention of physical reward for Mitzvot.
We are left with our question, why does the Shema mention a physical reward if that is not the ultimate reward?
Rambam offers a twofold answer.
- If Hashem rewards us with physical comforts like wealth, peace, health, long life and sustenance, then we are available to do more Mitzvot because we are not struggling for survival.
- The reward in this world is not a reward for the actual deed, the ultimate reward for that is in עולם הבא. The reward in this world is for our attitude. If we do Mitzvot out of happiness בשמחה, then the reward for your happiness, your attitude, is a good life in this world.
We should all have opportunities to do Mitzvot which will lead to greater growth and more Mitzvot, and don't forget- always do it with a smile!
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