Q&A: Reward for Steps — Reasoning
Reward for Steps — Reasoning
Question
What is the reasoning behind the statement of the Magen Avraham (based on the Talmud) that there is value in going to the more distant synagogue because of the “reward for steps”? What is the logic of that? What honor is there in walking far when one can pray nearby? Is there also a rationale to go on foot and not by car (and with a car itself, in an old model and at low speed)? Or perhaps to walk in tiny little steps and limp? Or maybe to buy a heavy etrog because of “reward for muscles”? Also, why do we find this only with regard to a synagogue?
Answer
Indeed, there is no logic to it at all.
Discussion on Answer
So?
I didn’t manage to understand. Are there sayings in the Talmud that lack a source and a rationale? Where did the sages get this from? And does the Rabbi act this way—and if not, why not?
In short, if the Rabbi could expand a bit, I’d appreciate it.
How could this have a source? Is it a Torah-level law? Clearly this is the sages’ reasoning. Reasoning is not necessarily correct. True, if that reasoning creates Jewish law, then it is binding even if it is not correct, by virtue of the authority of the Talmud. But here we are not speaking about Jewish law, only about a recommendation for proper conduct. In that area the sages have no authority.
One can of course interpret it as a limited case—for example, when the distant synagogue needs help completing a minyan, and the like. As it stands, I do not see any logic in it.
Okay, thank you very much. The lack of logic here is so jarring that it’s really hard for me to believe that the Talmud and the Magen Avraham had no reason for it. A strange and exceptional ruling.
According to this recommendation, every community should set up its synagogue in a different neighborhood rather than its own. So neighborhood A should establish a synagogue in neighborhood B, and neighborhood B should establish one in A. And the especially energetic walkers from neighborhood A, after establishing a synagogue in B, should go pray in C.
Clearly nobody can seriously mean such a recommendation in its plain sense. Therefore it is reasonable to give it some qualifying interpretation, as I suggested, or something similar.
https://www.etzion.org.il/he/%D7%A1%D7%95%D7%98%D7%94-%D7%93%D7%A3-%D7%9B%D7%91-%E2%80%93-%D7%A9%D7%9B%D7%A8-%D7%A4%D7%A1%D7%99%D7%A2%D7%95%D7%AA
But it is stated explicitly in the Talmud!