Parshat Bechukotai In Memory of Shimshon Ben Shalom

On the above verse, the sages of Israel bring up the following teaching that seems to contradict the verse above -

If this is true, then how does the above verse inform us that if we keep the Commandments we will then we rewarded with rains and produce? Isn't there no reward in this world for keeping the Torah? Furthermore, why does the verse use the plural for rain, saying rains? What are these rain?

And it seems to explain we need to look into the teachings of the sages -

As well, we can see the below Rashi on Pslams -

So then we ask the same question.. isn't there no reward in this world for keeping the Commandments? And what effect would faith/Emunah even have that we can receive reward in this world from it?

And behold, the essence of faith is that one believes in Divine Providence, that HaShem Yitbarach is looking over us on ALL matters. And with all ones might we place on HaShem all of our needs that He will oversee and guide, and whatever you do get in this world has been set aside for you since the time of the creation of the world.

And as is known in the story regarding the Baal Shem Tov, may his merit rest upon us. There was one time the Baal Shem was on a journey with his student somewhere in a desolate area, and the student was so parched for water until it became a matter of life and death, and he said - "Rabbi, I am parched enough that may soul may leave" and the Baal Shem Tov says back "Do you believe whole heartedly and with a pure heart, that the second that HaShem created the world, He saw you and your current situation, and has already prepared for you water to drink in this desolate area?"The student did not answer back right away until his mind settled and let the question sink into his heart fully, and then he responded to the Baal Shem - "I do truly believe this".. they then walked a little more they saw a merchant who was carrying water on his shoulders, and when he came near to them they gave him some coin, and they were given what to drink. Afterwards the Baal Shem asked the merchant whats going on that he's in this desert with water? The merchant responded back - "My master went crazy, and had sent me to this one specific well to get water, and I've been walking miles already, and I have no clue why I am on this mission." The Baal Shem then said to his student, "Don't you see this divine providence?, a master was created to go insane, all to provide for you water, and all of this HaShem saw during the time of the Creation, when everything was created, and since then has been watching over you with divine providence, to worry on your behalf to quench your thirst.

And when a person instills inside of himself faith in divine providence, then he/she will upkeep what is commanded in the Holy Torah, to be pure before HaShem.

As we can see below that this is from the Torah, and Rashi sheds some light on what this really means.

And let us preface with whats written in the writings of the sages, that the reason we don't get reward in this world can be found from a law in the Talmud that a laborer gets paid only at the end of his/her job.

As we can see, its not possible to get your reward in this world until we reach the end of our life, and the job here is done which is to be a servant of the Divine, and to live a life of Torah and deeds, and the payment for such would be at the end of this job.

However, the Mitzvah of Emunah is one without boundary or edge, since one is believing in the One without end, the Infinite. And in that case, there is no need to say we will wait until the end to get paid, because the reality of faith ties you to a reality of no endings! So how can we say here that one will get their reward in the end? There is no end or finish to HaShem and His reality, so HaShem is forced to provide for you reward while still in this world, since there is no need to wait until the end.

And its common to be taught by the sages - "We are only nourished through the power of faith"

And this is also the explanation of the below verse in Habakuk -

Because in truth, no human in this world gets any bonus or perk, as all the reward for his/her service down here, as all the reward for good actions down here is only being seeded for the world to come. If this is so, what then does a man have to be worthy to receive the good things he/she does down here? And with what merit will he/she receive what they need to survive, and even someone who is keeping the Torah and deeds in a fitting manner?

However based on our words above that faith can bring you reward in this world, since there is no aspect of being bound by a job that has an end, since faith is endless - it would seem then the answer is based on having faith one can receive what they need while on the planet. And this is why the above verse says that 'A righteous person will live by faith", that even though this person is a Tzaddik, righteous, and is fulfilling all the is required while down here, and has reward seeded for the future, but if he wants to have a life of nourishment while down here, then the only path is through faith! Because without faith, what would a person use to justify the request payment prior to completing his/her days!

And from here, let us return to the beginning and re-approach the verse regarding getting rains and fruits as a reward, and which upon that we asked don't we not get reward in this world?

And on this we will say a new thing - and let us look in the writings of the Degel Machane Efrayim in the name of our elder the Holy Baal Tov, may his merit rest upon us that teaches - "The main principal of the Torah and Mitzvot depends on faith"

And similarly it is written -

And without faith, G-D forbid, one doesn't have Torah and deeds, and because of this it rests upon faith to get any reward in this world, as we said before, faith attaches you to a reality without end, so we see because of this, that is someone upkeeps the whole Torah, and all the Commandments with full faith as fitting, it would be deserving that this person gets reward in this world on behalf of all the Torah and deeds kept, as they are all dependent on the foundational pillar of faith.

And with this we can perfectly explain the opening verse of getting reward in this world and the contradiction we discussed. Which is that one keeps all of the Commandments as a decree without needing to know the reasons, which means that someone is simply keeping the Torah do to simple faith, and through this, someone can actually receive all of the rewards of the Torah in this world, and HaShem will provide for him/her expanded nourishment and resources with ease, since they are at a level of getting their reward while still alive.

And this is why the verse says "I will provide for them their rains", in plural, in Hebrew the word for rain can also be for material possessions, (Geshem, Gashmiut), which rain is referring to your lively-hood as well, which will be given in 'its time', which is the time that you are alive on this planet, due to the reality of having faith brings direct nourishment, even in this world.