Midras Ulangan 6:1: Ein Yaakov (Glick Edition)

(Fol. 87) We are taught in a Baraitha: R. Juda says: "A blind person has no sense of shame." And so also did R. Juda relieve him from the performance of all the positive commandments contained in the Scripture. Said R. Shesheth b. R. Juda: "What is the meaning of the passage (Deut. 6, 1) And this is the commandment, with the statutes and the ordinances? Whoever is eligible to be ordained as judge, has the obligation of observing the commandments, but whoever is not eligible to be ordained as judge, is exempt." R. Joseph said: "First I used to say: If there should come one and tell me that the Halacha prevails according to R. Juda, who says that a blind person is exempt from the performance of the positive commandments, I shall make a feast for the Rabbis, because I, who am under no obligation to do so, still do perform them; but since I heard of what R. Chanina said, that there is more reward for him who performs a commandment to which he has an obligation than for him who performs it without such obligation, I changed my mind, and I say that I shall make a feast if one should come and tell me that the Halacha does not prevail in accordance with R. Juda, for if I am required to perform the commandments, the reward will be greater."