Do the Mitzvos for Yourself! Understanding Fear of Sin

Full Summary

This shiur examines the fourth of Rabbi Yochanan Ben Zakkai's five students, Rabbi Shimon Ben Mesannon, who was characterized as a "yerei chet" (one who fears sin). Rabbi Zweig addresses the Meir's difficulty with this description, questioning why fear of sin is listed among intellectual qualities rather than moral ones, despite the principle that "the beginning of wisdom is fear of God." The analysis centers on understanding what "fear of sin" truly means. Rabbi Zweig examines various interpretations, including the Rambam (רמב"ם)'s seemingly contradictory statements about fear of punishment. In Sefer HaMitzvos, the Rambam describes fear of God as fear of punishment, while in Mishneh Torah (תורה), he presents it as awe and love arising from contemplating God's creation. Rather than seeing this as a contradiction, Rabbi Zweig explains that there are two types of fear of punishment: unhealthy self-preservation (appropriate only for children) and healthy recognition of right and wrong. The key insight is that true fear of punishment means acknowledging that what God commands is genuinely right and what He forbids is genuinely wrong. This recognition transforms punishment from mere bullying into just consequence, establishing a value system rather than mere power dynamics. The Chinuch's formulation supports this: even if one sins after remembering that God is watching and will punish, they still possess fear of Heaven because they recognize the wrongness of their action. Rabbi Zweig addresses the crucial practical application through the teaching that mitzvos must be performed with enthusiasm ("mitzvos tzrichos zerizus"). Drawing from the requirement to make matzah quickly lest it become chametz, he explains that mitzvos performed without enthusiasm become like chametz - worse than not performing them at all. This is because resentful compliance builds hostility that eventually leads to complete rejection. The solution is finding personal motivation for mitzvah (מצוה) observance. The principle of "lo lishmah ba lishmah" (from improper motivation comes proper motivation) teaches that it's better to perform mitzvos for personal benefit than with resentment. Whether motivated by reward, recognition, or other self-interest, enthusiastic performance eventually leads to performing mitzvos for their own sake. This approach applies both to child-rearing and self-motivation. Parents must find ways to make mitzvos enjoyable and meaningful rather than merely demanding compliance, as forced observance creates future rejection. Similarly, adults should seek personal reasons to embrace mitzvos rather than performing them grudgingly. The shiur concludes that yiras Shamayim (fear of Heaven) combines recognition of right and wrong with personal motivation. While the ultimate level is performing mitzvos from pure love and awe of God, the beginning level requires understanding God's system of values while finding personal benefit in observance. This creates a foundation for genuine spiritual growth rather than mere external compliance.