Q&A: The Idea of the Commandment
Originally published:
This is an English translation (via GPT-5.4). Read the original Hebrew version.
The Idea of the Commandment
Question
Hello Rabbi,
I seem to remember that you once wrote about the distinction (which in your view is artificial) between the reason for a commandment and the formal definition of the commandment, or “the idea of the commandment,” as Rabbi Gedaliah Nadel called it.
If I remember correctly and you did in fact write about this, I’d be glad if you could point me to the place where you wrote about it.
Many thanks!
Answer
What I remember is the article on the fifth root. I think there is a distinction, but it is not sharp and it is hard to define. Beyond that, defining the formal parameters requires understanding, and understanding is usually of the reason.