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Are you doing Torah and mitzvos for personal gain (physical or spiritual) or is your focus on what Hashem wants from you? Would love to hear
Your purpose for creation is to serve Hashem. We weren’t created for our personal gain per se, even though we do have personal gain in this world, but that’s not the main purpose of creation.
As it says In Likutei Amarim Tanya Perek Lamed Gimmel:
וְזֶה כָּל הָאָדָם וְתַכְלִית בְּרִיאָתוֹ, וּבְרִיאַת כָּל הָעוֹלָמוֹת עֶלְיוֹנִים וְתַחְתּוֹנִים – לִהְיוֹת לוֹ דִּירָה זוֹ בַּתַּחְתּוֹנִים, כְּמוֹ שֶׁיִּתְבָּאֵר לְקַמָּן בַּאֲרִיכוּת.
This, in fact, is the whole [purpose] of man and the purpose for which he, and all the worlds, both upper and lower, were created: that Hashem should have such a dwelling place here below, as will be explained further at length—how this earthly abode for Hashem is the purpose of all creation.And how that answers the question is that we were created by Hashem for Hashem.
To say that Hashem created something for Himself would imply that he was lacking cv”s. Diroh b’tachtonim is a method of imparting shlaimus, godly perfection onto people. The mesilas yeshorim says in the first few paragraphs that Hashem created us to bestow upon us pleasure, and the place of that pleasure is mainly olam haba.
Hashem created us for us, to give us. We gain that by being selfless and by doing things for the sake of heaven, but Hashem does not need our avodah, does not need anything, because he is perfect and whole in every possible way.
everyone starts off doing mitzvos for personal gain “מתוך שלא לשמה בא לשמה”
CS, I never said that Hashem chas veshalom doesn’t care about what we do and that it’s just for ourselves so what’s the big deal if we fail.
What I said is that Hashem does not need anything. This is basic jewish theology outlined in the rambam and everyone else. Needing something means that there’s a lack, there’s an imperfection, r”l.
We are needed in Hashem’s plans. We have a given mission, both individually and collectively. Our avodah is necessary – the most important thing in the world. Hashem gave us a responsibility, and from our perspective it’s not for ourselves; it’s to be mekadesh shem shomayim, to help others, to be davuk bashem, many intentions. From Hashem’s perspective, it’s for our benefit.
I’m reminded of what I read in R’ Bender’s sefer on Chumash a few weeks ago.
We need to recognize what Hashem wants from us, instead of what we think is correct. He had a story with R’ Chaim Epstein zt”l, when some of his students were travelling to a friend’s wedding. They had miscalculated their timing, and if they wanted to stop to daven mincha with a minyan, they would be late for the wedding. They called R’ Epstein and asked what to do. He told them to daven b’yichidus and get to the wedding – he asked, “If it comes to the chuppah, and the chosson sees none of his friends are there, how will he feel?”
One of the boys protested that he hadn’t missed a single minyan since his bar mitzvah. R’ Epstein replied, “You think streaks matter in Shamayim? What matters is what Hashem wants from you – and in this case, that’s to go to the wedding!”Damoshe – amazing story, very good example!
I also would like to point out that this issue is an example of how learning advanced studies, chasidus, kabalah, etc…can lead to tragic misconceptions and even heresy r”l. If one learns a Tanya without having an elementary education in the basics, these kind of mistakes are almost inevitable.
Hi CS – long time no see
I’m not sure where I said that Hashem needs us. But he WANTS us. He wants to see people who can do otherwise, but chose to serve Hashem.
Saying that Hashem created us for Him means that he needs something and does not have it. That is an imperfection. Hashem created everything for the sake of the created, to be maitiv lezulaso
DaMoshe, thanks for a good story. This is the same theme as Akeida, where Avraham has to go against his middah of chesed. For this boy, it is a test whether he never missed mincha because he is serious or because he is OCD and a show-off. You would know the answer by what he does when there is a competing need. Also, a period “from bar mitzva” and “going to friend’s wedding” may not be that long a period according to the Satmar joke about priority between a hasan and a bar mitzva – “whoever is older”. There was a similar story at the early Covid lockdown of an elderly person who never missed davening. When questioned, he said he has no problem, he is doing every day whatever is required that day.
Avira, not sure how Tanya is dangerous here, it seems to give same message. (even as I agree with your sentiment in general).
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