Q&A: Intention in Rabbinic Commandments
Originally published:
This is an English translation (via GPT-5.4). Read the original Hebrew version.
Intention in Rabbinic Commandments
Question
Hello Rabbi,
If I fulfill a rabbinic commandment because I want to fulfill the Torah commandment of “according to what they instruct you,” but the commandment itself seems silly to me, and in my mind I dismiss its reasoning, have I fulfilled the commandment?
Answer
Obviously. Why not?
Discussion on Answer
Definitely.
There’s no reason not to, but I wanted to be sure.
Is that true also for Torah commandments themselves? That I dismiss the commandment itself, Heaven forbid, but still fulfill it because that’s what my Creator told me?