R’ Yehuda Modern z”l (1819-1893; Rosh Yeshiva in Sighet, Hungary) writes: Earlier commentaries quote a Midrash stating that the word “Anochi” in this verse alludes to the first of the Ten Commandments: “Anochi / I am Hashem, your Elokim.”
However, the Midrash does not explain what the significance of this allusion is. It appears, R’ Modern writes, that the message of the Midrash is as follows: Our Sages teach that we are sustained in this world in the merit of our Emunah / faith. On the other hand, our Sages teach that we are not rewarded for our Mitzvot in this world; rather, the reward for our Mitzvot will be forthcoming in the World to Come.
But how can this be? Is there not a commandment in the Torah that a worker be paid on the same day that he worked? Thus, we should be rewarded for our Mitzvot the same day we perform them!
The answer, R’ Modern writes, is that there is an exception. Specifically, the Mitzvah to pay workers the same day does not apply if workers were hired through an agent. [The reasoning for that Halachah is beyond the scope of this space.] Since Hashem gave the Torah through an agent (Moshe), Hashem is not obligated to pay us for observing the Torah on the same day as our Mitzvah performance, and He can pay us in the World to Come instead.
However, R’ Modern continues, there are two Mitzvot which Hashem did teach us directly–the first two of the Ten Commandments, which our ancestors heard at Har Sinai directly from Hashem. For those Mitzvot, which encompass the commandment to have Emunah, Hashem must reward us in this world.
Hence our Sages’ teaching that we are sustained in this world in the merit of Emunah. “See,” says our verse, “because of Anochi I give you a blessing or curse today!” (Pri Ha’eitz)
Reprinted from this week’s email of R’ Yedidye Hirtenfeld’s whY I Matter parshasheet for the Young Israel of Midwood in Brooklyn.
