GOOD DEEDS AND THEIR REWARD

 

Rabbi Rifat Sonsino, Ph.D

 Recently, our online rabbinic study group in Boston got stuck on a statement in Midrash Rabba (c. 5^th cent. CE) that reads:

שומר מצוה לא ידע דבר רע (“whoever observes the commandments will not suffer anything bad”). (Mishpatim, 32:8)

 This is factually not correct. Many people observe the commandments and still do not get their deserved reward.

 Maybe, good deeds ought to be carried out for their own sake without concern for any reward. The satisfaction of having done something right, should be enough!

Do you agree?