Q&A: Why Keep the Commandments?
Why Keep the Commandments?
Question
Why do I need to listen to God? The only reason someone observant keeps the commandments is reward and punishment. Reasons like “He sustains me every moment,” “He created the world,” or “gratitude” don’t persuade me. As a believing Haredi yeshiva student, I started questioning why I need to keep rabbinic commandments, stringencies, and laws that have no rationale. After all, the reason I keep the Sabbath, tefillin, and kashrut is reward and punishment. By the very fact that I’m a yeshiva student who keeps the minimum, in the reward-and-punishment equation I’m in the top 5000 (according to some calculation I made, the world is divided into 5000, and I’m in the first tier). So why do more than the minimum? And why keep laws that have no rationale, or a law whose rationale I reject? And moral laws too—stealing, honoring parents—those are subject to my own decision, according to my own level of morality, so why am I obligated to keep them?
Answer
I didn’t understand the question. If you’re worried about punishment and want reward, then you should keep everything that brings reward and prevents punishment. What difference does it make whether or not there is a rationale, and whether it is Torah-level or rabbinic?
Indeed, that is only according to your approach. In my view, there is an inherent obligation to obey the Holy One, blessed be He (see my article on philosophical gratitude here on the site).
It’s strange that you say you are a “believing Haredi yeshiva student” and in the same breath ask, “Why do I need to listen?” And in the same breath you say you “reject the rationale.” So what exactly do you believe in?
After all, faith begins where reason ends. Do you want to believe only in what you understand? For that you don’t need faith!!!
Also, what you wrote about moral laws is itself part of the “reward and punishment” you mentioned. That is definitely an important foundation of faith. And as they already wrote to you, there is no need here for a rationale.
It’s just a shame that you do not observe out of “love.” It’s all a matter of education. I hope you find the right path to arrive at love and joy.