Q&A: Torah Study Versus a Commandment
Torah Study Versus a Commandment
Question
The Rabbi’s view is that responding to obligation is the highest aspect of performing the commandments. That is, the most important motivation present in fulfilling a commandment is responding to the divine command.
- Is this how the Rabbi explains the statement, “Greater is one who is commanded and does than one who is not commanded and does”?
- Does an explicit commandment rank “higher” than Torah study, which according to the Rabbi’s approach is not explicit? Intuitively, it seems that Torah study is more basic than the commandments.
Answer
- Indeed. Something along these lines was explained by the Ritva and Tosafot HaRosh. Greater is one who is commanded and does, because when someone who is commanded performs the commandment, there are two benefits in it: the benefit of the commandment itself and obedience to the command.
- Torah study is explicit. Except that Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai reduces it to reciting the Shema morning and evening. See my article on reasoning for a lengthy explanation of the matter.
Discussion on Answer
And that is the plain meaning? After all, that is just a homiletic interpretation. The words of those medieval authorities mentioned above are, in my opinion, the straightforward plain meaning.
God does not command things for no reason.
Someone who does not understand why God commands is just a stupid obedient person and a gullible believer in anything.
And obviously about such a person one cannot say “greater.”
Those who said “We will do and we will hear” were also the same ones who a moment later sinned with the sin of the Golden Calf. This is not a matter of great intellect.
Therefore, one should say that this interpretive reading is actually the plain meaning.
Is that really the plain meaning of “greater is one who is commanded”?
Maybe you could say that “greater is one who is commanded” refers to someone who understands why “this is the right thing to do,” in which case it is an internal command. As opposed to someone who does it out of a feeling or emotion that this is the right act.
Reason versus emotion.