Observing a commandment because of reward and punishment or observing a commandment for its own sake?
Hello Rabbi
I read the trilogy that says that keeping the commandments is important to you for its own sake and not for any other purpose. I wanted to ask, how does this fit in with the concept of a reward system, how do you understand the High Holy Days (what we pray for), since you don’t keep the commandments because of the reward and punishment system?
This question is a collection of words that I haven’t had the chance to decipher.
What is the connection between the question of whether one receives a reward and the question of whether one performs a mitzvah because of the reward? See Rambam Rafi Mahal’ Teshuva, which addresses exactly this. And what is the connection between the reason why one performs a mitzvah and the question of whether one prays in order to receive a good reward? And in general, where on the High Holy Days do you pray for the reward?
By the way, I commented in the trilogy on the significance of these days in light of my perceptions.
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