BS’D
Today’s daily dose of emuna is dedicated to the refuah shleimah Rivka bat Berta Bracha. Please daven for the success of multiple surgical procedures that she will be going through today. May Hashem shower her with emuna, strength, clarity, chochman, binah and da’at, refuat hanefesh v’refuat haguf among all of Klal Yisrael who are sick and suffering b’karov, b’rachamim, Amen.
Eleventh principle of Emuna according to the Rambam ztk’l:
There is reward and punishment for our actions.
The Torah discusses the idea of individual, national and universal reward and punishment. It is evident that Hashem rewards the tzaddikim by granting them bracha and punishes the wicked with devastation. In fact this is the basis of the second perek of the Shema, “… the rain of the land in its seasons” is dependent on our adherence to Torah and mitzvot. Even the mitzvah of honoring one’s parents is rewarded with “your days may be long upon the earth which Hashem will give you.”
All wrongdoings will be taken into account and will not simply be ignored. Even the tiniest misdeed is recorded and the soul of that person will need to be rectified either in this world of the next. Yet, the truth is that reward and punishment to many is just a belief and not a fact. If we are honest with our feelings because there is no absolute proof of consequence we many times fail to fulfill our calling.
The most important step is to first believe that our actions have consequences; that is the most powerful motivator possible. Yet if this would occur instantly free will would cease to exist. Therefore we have the freedom to decide whether we will or will not believe in the repercussions of our actions. All suffering serves as a means of rectification and healing; sort of like a spiritual rehabilitation making a new beginning possible.
Chazal teach us that “the reward for mitzvot is not in this world” rather it will be in Olam Haba. The reason is explained, there is no possible reward for mitzvot in this world; there is nothing of such great value that would compensate and compare.
