The Value of Commanded and Uncommanded Mitzvot
Feel under pressure to do so. They buy their arba minim at 5:15pm when Sukkot begins at 6:00! They go to the market after most merchants have gone home, and one remains to entertain their can’t-miss offer of twenty shekel.
What does the concept of אֵינוֹ מְ צֻוֶּה וְעוֹשֶׂה refer to? To one who performs Mitzvot out of love for Hakadosh Baruch Hu, even if they are not specifically commanded to do so. For example, someone who loves Hakadosh Baruch Hu so much that they observe Shabbat from 4:30pm on Friday, when candle-lighting time is only at 5:00. They are ready for Shabbat early, with their table set, sitting in shul learning peacefully before Mincha. Such people are also not in a rush to see Shabbat out, only reciting Havdalah 30 minutes after the zman. Like most of us in a nice hotel room, where we would not dare check out a minute early, and often beg for that extra hour from the front desk.
This concept suggests there is a positive aspect to performing Mitzvot that are not specifically commanded, as it demonstrates the depth of one's love and devotion to Hakadosh Baruch Hu. Conversely, there is also a positive aspect to performing actions that are specifically commanded, as it shows a sense of awe and reverence for Hakadosh Baruch Hu and His Mitzvot. Ultimately, both types of actions can reflect a person's love and devotion to Hakadosh Baruch Hu in different ways.
The Alter of Klem says, the entire existence of Mitzvot performed by the angels does not stem from their love for the Creator, but rather, it comes from their awe of Him, as it is written, עו ֹנִ ים בְּ אֵ ימָ ה, וְ או ֹמְ רִ ים בְּ יִ רְ אָ ה – They cover their faces in fear and say with reverence. The Ramchal writes (Mesilat Yesharim 24:15):
וּכְבָר מָצָאנוּ שׁ ֶהַמַּלְאָכִים הַגְּדוֹלִים וְהָרֵמִים, חֲרֵדִ ים וְרוֹעֲשִׁים תָּמִיד מִפְּנֵי גֵּאוּת ה' עַד שׁ ֶאָמְרוּ זִכְרוֹנָם לִבְרָכָה בַּמָּשׁ ָל חָכְמָתָם }חֲגִיגָה יג, וֹת, וְהוּא מִפְּנֵי ב{ נְהַר דִּ ינוּר מֵהֵיכָן יוֹצֵא? מִזֵּיעָתָן שׁ ֶל חַי הָאִימָּה אֲשׁ ֶר עֲלֵיהֶם תָּמִיד מֵרוֹמְמוּתוֹ יִתְבָּרֵךְּ וְהַקְּדֻושָּׁה הָרָאוּי לְפָנָיו וּבְכָל שׁ ָעָה שׁ ֶנִּגְלֵית הַשְּׁכִינָה עַל אֵיזֶה מָקוֹם שׁ ֶיהַכָּתוּב }תְּהִילִּים סח, ט{ אֶרֶץ רָעָשׁ ָה אַף שׁ ָמַיִם נָטְפוּ מִפְּנֵי אֱ -ל ֹהִ ים.
We have already found that the great and lofty angels, tremble and quake constantly due to the exaltedness of G-d. Our sages, of blessed memory, said in their wise analogies: "from where does the Dinur river (of fire) spring forth? From the sweat of the Chayot (angels)" (Chagigah 13b). This is because of the dread these lofty angels constantly experience of G-d's exaltedness, blessed be He, lest they detract a small amount from the honor and holiness due before His presence. Whenever and on whatever place the divine presence reveals itself, there is agitation, trembling, and quaking. This is what scripture refers to saying: "The earth trembled, the heavens also dropped at the presence of G-d".
But we, human beings who come from dust and return to dust, were given the unique opportunity to serve Hakadosh Baruch Hu out of both אַ הֲבָה and יִ רְ אָ ה – love and fear. The idea of the Gemara, גָּדוֹל הַמְּ צֻוֶּה וְעוֹשֶׂה יוֹתֵר מִ שֶּׁאֵינוֹ מְ צֻוֶּה וְעוֹשֶׂה – is from the perspective of יִ רְ אָ ה. But from the perspective of אַ הֲבָ ה for Hakadosh Baruch Hu, greater is the one who is not commanded and yet does anyway!
If Hakadosh Baruch Hu were to instruct everyone to donate money to the Mishkan – not just the half a shekel for the adanim and korbanot, but that each person must also bring a half kilogram of gold, what would happen? The entire Mishkan would be built solely out of יִ רְ אָ ה. But Hakadosh Baruch Hu wanted His Mishkan from both אַ הֲבָה and יִ רְ אָ ה. So, what did He do? First, He commanded Bnei Yisrael to give a half-shekel for the foundation, because the foundation of Avodat Hashem is based on fear! And what comes after that? מֵאֵת כָּל אִישׁ אֲשׁ ֶר יִדְּבֶנּוּ לִבּוֹ תִּקְחוּ אֶת תְּרוּמָתִי – whoever felt it within them to give generously, did so. Nobody was forced. Nobody felt any fear in their decision to donate.
The Ater of Kelm says, this is the meaning of the pasuk from Shir Hashirim (3:9-10): שְׁלֹמֹה מֵעֲצֵי הַלְּבָנוֹן׃ עַמּוּדָיו עָשָׂה כֶסֶף רְפִידָתוֹ אַפִּרְיוֹן עָשָׂה לוֹ הַמֶּלֶךְ זָהָב מֶרְכָּבוֹ אַרְגָּמָן תּוֹכוֹ רָצוּף אַהֲבָה מִבְּנוֹת יְרוּשׁ ָלַיִם׃ King Shlomo made himself a canopy of the timbers of the Levanon. Its pillars he made of silver, its covering of gold, its curtain of purple wool; its interior bedecked with love from the daughters of Yerushalayim.
The center of the Mishkan needed to be built from love and with love. בִּ לְבָבִ י מִ שׁ ְ כָּן אֶ בְ נֶה – each member of Klal Yisrael must build a Mishkan in the heart; a home for Hakadosh Baruch Hu. That Mishkan is built from two parts. Its foundation is built from fear, but its core solely from love. When we observe our Mitzvot with a combination of fear and love, Hakadosh Baruch Hu will bless us, and we should merit to see the Beit Hamikdash rebuilt in Yerushalayim.
