Ki Seitzei

The Midrash Tanchuma writes that in this Parsha we learn about the idea called mitzvah-goreres-mitzvah and aveira goreres aveira. The beginning of the Parsha teaches us about aveira-goreres-avaira: if a person takes a yefas to’ar he will end up hating her. Then he will have a child that will be a ben sorer u’moreh who will do aveiros and get killed. Afterwards, the pesukim teach us about mitzvah-goreres-mitzvah: if a person fulfills the mitzvah of shilu’ach hakan then he will be presented the opportunity able to build a house and fulfill the mitzvah of building a ma’akeh. Then he will be zoche to have vineyards and fields to fulfill the mitzvah of lo sizra kil’ayim. He will also attain oxen and donkeys and will have the mitzvah of not plowing with them together. Then he will have nice clothes of wool and linen and he will perform the mitzvah of lo silbash shaatnez, as well as the mitzvah of tzitzis. Then he will be zoche to a wife and children.

What is the meaning of this, that a mitzvah or aveira leads to another mitzvah or aveira? Rabeinu Yona writes that when one performs a mitzvah he comes close to Hashem and becomes accustomed to doing His avodah. It becomes easier to do another mitzvah because it is more natural for him to do mitzvos. So too, when a third mitzvah comes, even though it may be harder than the first two, he will be able to do it as well because he has taken control of his “doing mitzvos.” This will continue with fulfilling all the mitzvos. The same is true for aveiros. When a person had transgressed an aveira, he removes himself from avodas Hashem. Since he has become cold in his avodas Hashem, when another aveira comes his way, he will stumble, even though he does not have such a desire for it.

Rabeinu Yona also points out that Hashem set the good and bad which a person has to choose. If he chooses good, Hashem will then help him perform another mitzvah. If however, one chas v’shalom chooses bad, Hashem removes Himself and allows the person to follow his route.

May we all become accustomed to perform mitzvos and subsequently merit Hashem’s help to fulfill many additional mitzvos!