The True Purpose of Mitzvos: Earning Our Existence Through Joy

Full Summary

This shiur addresses a fundamental question from Parshas Ki Savo: how can the Torah (תורה) attribute the Churban Bayis Sheni and two thousand years of exile to the seemingly minor issue of not serving Hashem (ה׳) with joy (tachas asher lo avadta es Hashem Elokecha b'simcha)? The speaker presents several difficulties: where does the Torah command us to be joyful with such severe consequences for failure? How does this relate to Chazal's statement that the Second Temple was destroyed due to sinas chinam? Why does the Rambam (רמב"ם) cite this pasuk as proof both for being mevatel Torah and for serving Hashem properly? The resolution comes through understanding the Ramban (רמב"ן)'s teaching that the ultimate purpose of all mitzvos is hakaras hatov - but not gratitude for material blessings. Rather, the true good (hatov) that Hashem provides is the opportunity to earn our existence through serving Him. When we focus on material pleasures and benefits as the definition of good, mitzvos become burdens - something we do reluctantly just to 'get Hashem off our back.' This attitude represents a complete misunderstanding of the purpose of creation. According to this approach, a person who performs mitzvos without joy is not actually performing mitzvos at all - they are merely going through motions while rejecting the fundamental purpose of existence. The Rambam's seemingly contradictory citations make perfect sense: when we define good as material success, we become mevatel in our Torah observance even while performing the actions. The connection to sinas chinam becomes clear: when we view life as a competition for limited material goods, every other person becomes a rival. However, when we understand that the true good is earning our existence through mitzvos, there is no competition - each person has their own relationship with Hashem to build. The Torah's instruction that mitzvos should feel 'new each day' (k'chadashim) is not make-believe but reality: each time we perform a mitzvah (מצוה) with proper understanding, we gain new vitality and literally become a more complete person. This explains why there is a mitzvah of simcha on Rosh Hashanah despite it being Yom HaDin - it is the anniversary of man's creation, and the judgment determines whether we have earned our existence for another year. The ultimate simcha is the recognition that we have justified our existence through our relationship with Hashem.