פירוש על רות 2:12

May Adonai reward your deeds. The Midrash²¹Ruth Rabba 5:4 says, “May Adonai reward your deeds. May you have a full recompense from Adonai…” Rabbi Chasa said, “under whose wings you have sought refuge!” This is something about which one says, “look, this is new,”²²See Ecclesiastes 1:10 - “Sometimes there is a phenomenon of which they say, “Look, this one is new!”—it occurred long ago, in ages that went by before us.” JT Chagigah 1:8, Peah 2:4. The full phrase which is repeated in the Jerusalem Talmud goes, “What is the reason? (Eccl. 1:10) “There is something about which one would say, look, this is new!” His colleague will answer, “it already has been forever.” (but it’s not at all new.) Rabbi Hassa doesn’t add anything new here but simply places his good name in the middle of the verse and no more.²³Rabbi Hasa’s comment does not add anything to our understanding of the verse from Ruth since he simply quotes the next part of the verse. So what is the point of his comment? Many sought to explain it!
It might be explained according to what the sages said in Midrash Shochar Tov on the verse, “When Israel went forth from Egypt…” (Ps. 114:1) (Commenting on this verse,) Rabbi Pinchas Hakohen bar Chama said: ‘As a surety was placed in the firmament, the blessed Holy One plants the deeds of the righteous and they grow fruit. To what might we compare this? If it is to a deposit, then Rabbi Moses²⁴Rabbi Moses Isserles - Rabbi Moses Isserles (22 February 1530 / 25 Adar I 5290 – 11 May 1572 / 18 Iyar 5332) also known by the acronym Rema, was an eminent Polish Ashkenazic rabbi, talmudist, and posek (expert in Jewish law). He wrote addenda to the Shulchan Aruch for Ashkenazic Jews, better known as the Mappa. has already said in Choshen Mishpat (S, 292:7), if one makes a profit using a deposit, he does not have to give back the profit to the person to whom the pledge belongs. Even if the owner claims his deposit and the holder delays returning it and (while doing so) makes a profit, Rabbi Shlomo Luria²⁵Solomon Luria (1510 – November 7, 1573) was one of the great Ashkenazic poskim and teachers of his time. He is known for his work of Halakha, Yam Shel Shlomo, and his Talmudic commentary Chochmat Shlomo. Luria is also referred to as “Maharshal” מהרש"ל‎. (Wikipedia) quotes the Shach²⁶Shabbatai ben Meir HaKohen (1621–1662) was a noted 17th century talmudist and halakhist. He became known as the Shakh , which is an abbreviation of his most important work, Siftei Kohen (literally Lips of the Priest) on the Shulchan Aruch. (Wikipedia) on this saying he is not obligated to give the owner of the surety the profit. Even a when one delays paying a debt, and then one makes a profit (on what he owes) the author of the Shulchan Aruch writes (S. 71) based on the responsa of the Rosh,²⁷Asher ben Jehiel (1250 or 1259 – 1327) was an eminent Talmudist best known for his abstract of Talmudic law. He is often referred to as Rabbenu Asher, “our Rabbi Asher” or by the Hebrew acronym for this title, the Rosh (רא"ש‎, literally "Head"). (Wikipedia) that he is not obligated to pay the profit to the one he owes the money.
How much more so here when we are not speaking of a surety or a debt, for there is no reward for the commandments in this world for all the commandments are of equal importance. The reward is not given until one leaves this world. Then, God in His mercy, repays each person even if his deeds are not complete. In this case there is no debt or surety. How can one claim the principle since it is all considered charity and acts of loving kindness so there is no judgment in the case of a debt or a surety. But God’s kindness is made great and he rewards one’s actions, so that one receives full recompense of the fruits that are born from the planting of commandments.
It is about this that Rabbi Chasa has two questions. First, if one plants commandments and fruit come forth and God, in His goodness, gives the one who performs the mitzvot recompense, why did Boaz have to offer a prayer asking for this? And furthermore the verse should have said, “And Adonai, God of Israel, under whose wings you have sought shelter will give you reward for your actions and it shall be full recompense.” To this Rabbi Chasa answers, this is the case from the time of conversion onward, but not the act of conversion itself since Ruth was not an Jew yet. Therefore ,Boaz prayed that the mitzvah of conversion would also be planted for good and that Ruth would be rewarded for the fruit of her conversion and she would profit in the recompense for her act with Adonai, God of Israel, as God did with the people of Israel. And if you ask why do I need a prayer for this (Boaz offers a prayer on behalf of Ruth), “under whose wings you have sought refuge!” That is, Boaz states, “I am speaking about the act of conversion in my prayer.” Rabbi Chasa points this out, by placing his good name before the statement, “Coming under whose wings..”