Pensamento Judaico sobre Deuteronômio 5:1

At the end of the first chapter in Kiddushin (40), the Talmud relates a discussion that took place in the house of Natasse. The problem debated was if study or performance of the mitzvot was of greater value. Rabbi Tarfon said "performance is great." Rabbi Akivah said "study is great." The sages said "study is great because it leads to performance." Rabbi Yossi the Galilean said in the Sifri:"study is great since it preceded the mitzvah of Challah by forty years, the commandment to give tithes by fifty four years, the mitzvah of Shmittah by sixty one years and the mitzvah of the Jubilee year by one hundred and three years. As the punishment for neglect of Torah study is greater than the punishment for the failure to perform certain commandments, so the reward for study is greater than the reward for performance as it is written "you will study them to observe them and carry them out."(Deut 5,1)

In reality, the undoubted truth of the matter is that man has full sway over all his actions. If he wishes to do a thing, he does it; if he does not wish to do it, he need not, without any external compulsion controlling him. Therefore, God very properly commanded man, saying, "See I have set before thee this day life and the good, death and evil .... therefore choose thou life",⁶Deut. XXX, 15. 19. Cf. H. Teshubah, V, 3. giving us, as regards these, freedom of choice. Consequently, punishment is inflicted upon those who disobey, and reward granted to the obedient, as it is said, "If thou wilt hearken", and "If thou wilt not hearken".⁷Deut. XI, 27. 28. Learning and teaching are also necessary, according to the commands, "Ye shall teach them to your children",⁸Ibid., XI, 19. "and ye shall do them and observe to do them",⁹Ibid., V, 1. and, similarly, all the other passages referring to the study of the commandments. It is also necessary to take all the precautionary measures laid down in the Law, such as, "Thou shalt make a battlement for thy roof; that thou bring not blood upon thy house",¹⁰Ibid., XXII, 8. "lest he die in the battle",¹¹Ibid XX, 5 or 7. "wherein shall he sleep?"¹²Ex. XXII, 26. , and "no man shall take to pledge the nether or the upper millstone",¹³Deut. XXIV, 6. and many other passages in regard to precautions found in the Law and the Prophets.¹⁴See H. Teshubah, V, 4, and Moreh, III, 20; cf. Ibn Baud, Emunah Ramah, II, 6, 2, p. 96.

Mitzvoth. — Commandments. — The next requirement, which, though second in rank, gives life its completion and perfection, is love. Never be the instrumentality of curse or misfortune to yourself or your neighbor, but strive, like Deity, to do all your deeds in love, and thus become a blessing to yourself and your surroundings. First become a blessing to yourself in order that you may become it to others. Seek to equip yourself with all the capacities and means which can be of good service to the welfare of your fellow beings; make yourself rich with abundant store of good and noble principles, and then devote yourself to the world for perfect service of blessing. To become the means of blessing, learn first to honor your parents as messengers of God, mankind, and Israel to you; learn also to revere wisdom, age, and virtue, as guides and models, wherever and whenever they appear realized in human character. Illuminate yourself with the revealed wisdom of the Torah, avoid the evil and seek the good.