Shelos Asani Goy Obligation and Reward

There is a machlokes Tannaim if a blind man is obligated in mitzvos. The Gemara discusses Rav Yosef, a blind Amora who kept all mitzvos. At first he believed that a person who does mitzvos voluntarily is more deserving of reward. “If anyone can show that a blind man is patur, I will throw a party,” he said.

Later, he was taught that a person who is commanded in fact receives more schar. He proclaimed the opposite: “If anyone can show that a blind man is chayav, I will make a Yom Tov!” When a boy becomes bar mitzvah, he celebrates becoming chayav. These brachos thank Hashem for giving us a chiyuv in mitzvos.

Adapted from Emunah in the Classroom