Seder Yomi

Chapter Previewהַקְדָּמָה

In this chapter, the Rambam addresses a fundamental question that touches the very heart of our avodah: if the ultimate reward for keeping the mitzvos is the World to Come, and the ultimate punishment for the wicked is karet, why does the Torah constantly promise us physical rewards in this world for our obedience, and warn us of worldly suffering if we go astray? We will learn how Hashem manages the physical world to help us succeed in our spiritual journey.

We will also explore the deep yearning of the Jewish people, our Sages, and our prophets for the days of Moshiach. The Rambam explains that our desire for the Messianic era is not for physical luxury or dominance, but rather for the peace and freedom to immerse ourselves in Torah and wisdom without distraction, so that we may all merit the life of the World to Come.

All introductions, summaries, and contextual notes are the editor's commentary and are not part of the original text.אַלע הַקְדָּמוֹת, סִכּוּמִים, און הערות זענען דעם רעדאַקטאָר'ס באַמערקונגען און זענען נישט קיין טייל פונעם אָריגינעלן טעקסט.

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הַקֶּשֶׁר בֵּין הַבְּרָכוֹת הַגַּשְׁמִיּוֹת לְחַיֵּי הָעוֹלָם הַבָּאHalacha 1 · The Relationship Between Material Blessings and the World to Come

מֵאַחַרSinceשֶׁנּוֹדַעit is knownשֶׁמַּתַּןthat the giving ofשְׂכָרָןtheir rewardשֶׁלofמִצְוֹתmitzvotוְהַטּוֹבָהand the goodnessשֶׁנִּזְכֶּהthat we will meritלָהּitאִםifשָׁמַרְנוּwe keepדֶּרֶךְthe way ofה'Hashemהַכָּתוּבwrittenבַּתּוֹרָהin the Torahהִיאit isחַיֵּיthe life ofהָעוֹלָםthe worldהַבָּאto comeשֶׁנֶּאֱמַרas it is saidדבריםDevarimכב22ז7"לְמַעַןso thatיִיטַבit will be goodלָךְfor youוְהַאֲרַכְתָּand you will prolongיָמִים".daysוְהַנְּקָמָהand the retributionשֶׁנּוֹקְמִיםthat is exactedמִןfromהָרְשָׁעִיםthe wickedשֶׁעָזְבוּwho abandonedאָרְחוֹתthe paths ofהַצֶּדֶקrighteousnessהַכְּתוּבוֹתwrittenבַּתּוֹרָהin the Torahהִיאit isהַכָּרֵתkaretשֶׁנֶּאֱמַרas it is saidבמדברBamidbarטו15לא31"הִכָּרֵתsurely cut offתִּכָּרֵתshall be cut offהַנֶּפֶשׁthe soulהַהִיאthatעֲוֹנָהּits sinבָּהּ".is in itמַהוּwhat isזֶהthisשֶׁכָּתוּבthat is writtenבְּכָלin all ofהַתּוֹרָהthe Torahכֻּלָּהּentirelyאִםifתִּשְׁמְעוּyou will listenיַגִּיעַit will reachלָכֶםyouכָּךְsoויקראVayikraכו26יד14"וְאִםand ifלֹאnotתִּשְׁמְעוּ"you will listenיִקְרֶהit will happenאֶתְכֶםto youכָּךְ.soוְכָלand allאוֹתָןthoseהַדְּבָרִיםthe thingsבָּעוֹלָםin this worldהַזֶּה.thisכְּגוֹןsuch asשֹׂבַעplentyוְרָעָבand famineוּמִלְחָמָהand warוְשָׁלוֹםand peaceוּמַלְכוּתand sovereigntyוְשִׁפְלוּתand lowlinessוִישִׁיבַתand settlement ofהָאָרֶץthe landוְגָלוּתand exileוְהַצְלָחַתand the success ofמַעֲשֶׂהdeedוְהֶפְסֵדוֹand its lossוּשְׁאָרand the rest ofכָּלallדִּבְרֵיthe words ofהַבְּרִית.the covenantכָּלallאוֹתָןthoseהַדְּבָרִיםthe thingsאֱמֶתtruthהָיוּthey wereוְיִהְיוּand they will beוּבִזְמַןand at the timeשֶׁאָנוּthat weעוֹשִׂיםdoכָּלallמִצְוֹתthe mitzvot ofהַתּוֹרָהthe Torahיַגִּיעוּthere will reachאֵלֵינוּusטוֹבוֹתthe goods ofהָעוֹלָםthe worldהַזֶּהthisכֻּלָּן.all of themוּבִזְמַןand at the timeשֶׁאָנוּthat weעוֹבְרִיןtransgressעֲלֵיהֶןagainst themתִּקְרֶאנָהthere will happen toאוֹתָנוּusהָרָעוֹתthe evilsהַכְּתוּבוֹת.writtenוְאַףand evenעַל·פִּיthoughכֵןsoאֵיןare notאוֹתָןthoseהַטּוֹבוֹתthe goodsהֵםtheyסוֹףthe end ofמַתַּןthe giving ofשְׂכָרָןtheir rewardשֶׁלofמִצְוֹתmitzvotוְלֹאand notאוֹתָןthoseהָרָעוֹתthe evilsהֵםtheyסוֹףthe end ofהַנְּקָמָהthe retributionשֶׁנּוֹקְמִיןthat is exactedמֵעוֹבֵרfrom one who transgressesעַלagainstכָּלallהַמִּצְוֹת.the mitzvotאֶלָּאbutכָּךְthusהוּאitהֶכְרֵעַthe resolution ofכָּלallהַדְּבָרִים.the thingsהַקָּדוֹשׁthe Holy OneבָּרוּךְBlessedהוּאis Heנָתַןgaveלָנוּto usתּוֹרָהTorahזוֹthisעֵץa tree ofחַיִּיםlifeהִיא.it isוְכָלand anyoneהָעוֹשֶׂהwho doesכָּלallהַכָּתוּבthat is writtenבָּהּin itוְיוֹדְעוֹand knows itדֵּעָהwith knowledgeגְּמוּרָהcompleteנְכוֹנָהproperזוֹכֶהmeritsבָּהּthrough itלְחַיֵּיto the life ofהָעוֹלָםthe worldהַבָּא.to comeוּלְפִיand according toגֹּדֶלthe greatness ofמַעֲשָׂיוhis deedsוְרֹבand the abundance ofחָכְמָתוֹhis wisdomהוּאheזוֹכֶה.meritsוְהִבְטִיחָנוּand He promised usבַּתּוֹרָהin the Torahשֶׁאִםthat ifנַעֲשֶׂהwe performאוֹתָהּitבְּשִׂמְחָהwith joyוּבְטוֹבַתand with goodness ofנֶפֶשׁsoulוְנֶהְגֶּהand we meditateבְּחָכְמָתָהּon its wisdomתָּמִידalwaysשֶׁיָּסִירthat He will removeמִמֶּנּוּfrom usכָּלallהַדְּבָרִיםthe thingsהַמּוֹנְעִיםthat preventאוֹתָנוּusמִלַּעֲשׂוֹתָהּfrom performing itכְּגוֹןsuch asחלִיsicknessוּמִלְחָמָהand warוְרָעָבand famineוְכַיּוֹצֵאand the likeבָּהֶן.of themוְיַשְׁפִּיעַand He will bestowלָנוּupon usכָּלallהַטּוֹבוֹתthe goodsהַמַּחֲזִיקוֹתthat strengthenאֶת—יָדֵינוּour handsלַעֲשׂוֹתto performהַתּוֹרָהthe Torahכְּגוֹןsuch asשֹׂבַעplentyוְשָׁלוֹםand peaceוְרִבּוּיand abundance ofכֶּסֶףsilverוְזָהָב.and goldכְּדֵיin orderשֶׁלֹּאthat notנַעֲסֹקwe will occupy ourselvesכָּלallיָמֵינוּour daysבִּדְבָרִיםwith thingsשֶׁהַגּוּףthat the bodyצָרִיךְneedsלָהֶןthemאֶלָּאbutנֵשֵׁבwe will sitפְּנוּיִיםfreeלִלְמֹדto learnבַּחָכְמָה·וְלַעֲשׂוֹתwisdomהַמִּצְוָהand to performכְּדֵיthe mitzvahשֶׁנִּזְכֶּהin orderלְחַיֵּיthat we will meritהָעוֹלָםto the life ofהַבָּא.the worldוְכֵןto comeהוּאand soאוֹמֵרHeבַּתּוֹרָהsaysאַחַרin the Torahשֶׁהִבְטִיחַafterבְּטוֹבוֹתthat He promisedהָעוֹלָםwith the goods ofהַזֶּהthe worldדבריםthisוDevarimכה6"וּצְדָקָה25תִּהְיֶהand righteousnessלָּנוּ"it will beוְגוֹ'.for usוְכֵןetc.הוֹדִיעָנוּand soבַּתּוֹרָהHe informed usשֶׁאִםin the Torahנַעֲזֹבthat ifהַתּוֹרָהwe abandonמִדַּעַתthe Torahוְנַעֲסֹקwillinglyבְּהַבְלֵיand we occupy ourselvesהַזְּמַןwith the vanities ofכָּעִנְיָןthe timeשֶׁנֶּאֱמַרlike the matterדבריםas it is saidלבDevarimטו32"וַיִּשְׁמַן15יְשֻׁרוּןand he grew fatוַיִּבְעָט",Yeshurunשֶׁדַּיַןand kickedהָאֱמֶתthat the Judge ofיָסִירthe Truthמִןwill removeהַעוֹזְבִיםfromכָּלthose who abandonטוֹבוֹתallהָעוֹלָםthe goods ofהַזֶּהthe worldשֶׁהֵןthisחִזְּקוּwhich theyיְדֵיהֶםstrengthenedלִבְעֹטtheir handsוּמֵבִיאto kickעֲלֵיהֶםand He bringsכָּלupon themהָרָעוֹתallהַמּוֹנְעִיםthe evilsאוֹתָןthat preventמִלִּקְנוֹתthemהָעוֹלָםfrom acquiringהַבָּאthe worldכְּדֵיto comeשֶׁיֹּאבְדוּin orderבְּרִשְׁעָם.that they will perishהוּאin their wickednessשֶׁכָּתוּבit isבַּתּוֹרָהthat is writtenדבריםin the TorahכחDevarimמז28"תַּחַת47אֲשֶׁרbecauseלֹא·עָבַדְתָּnotאֶתyou servedה'"—וְגוֹ',Hashemדבריםetc.כחDevarimמח28"וְעָבַדְתָּ48אֶתand you shall serveאֹיְבֶיךָ—אֲשֶׁרyour enemiesיְשַׁלְּחֶנּוּwhomה'He will sendבָּךְ".Hashemנִמְצָאagainst youפֵּרוּשׁit is foundכָּלthe explanation ofאוֹתָןallהַבְּרָכוֹתthoseוְהַקְּלָלוֹתthe blessingsעַלand the cursesדֶּרֶךְonזוֹ,the path ofכְּלוֹמַרthisאִםmeaning to sayעֲבַדְתֶּםifאֶתyou serveה'—בְּשִׂמְחָהHashemוּשְׁמַרְתֶּםwith joyדַּרְכּוֹand you keepמַשְׁפִּיעַHis wayלָכֶםHe bestowsהַבְּרָכוֹתupon youהָאֵלּוּthe blessingsוּמַרְחִיקtheseהַקְּלָלוֹתand He distancesמִכֶּםthe cursesעַדfrom youשֶׁתִּהְיוּuntilפְּנוּיִיםthat you will beלְהִתְחַכֵּםfreeבַּתּוֹרָהto gain wisdomוְלַעֲסֹקin the Torahבָּהּand to occupy yourselvesכְּדֵיin itשֶׁתִּזְכּוּin orderלְחַיֵּיthat you will meritהָעוֹלָםto the life ofהַבָּאthe worldוְיִיטַבto comeלְךָand it will be goodלְעוֹלָםfor youשֶׁכֻּלּוֹin the worldטוֹבthat is entirelyוְתַאֲרִיךְgoodיָמִיםand you will prolongלְעוֹלָםdaysשֶׁכֻּלּוֹin the worldאָרֹךְthat is entirelyוְנִמְצֵאתֶםlongזוֹכִיןand you are foundלִשְׁנֵיmeritingהָעוֹלָמוֹת,to two ofלְחַיִּיםthe worldsטוֹבִיםto lifeבָּעוֹלָםgoodהַזֶּהin the worldהַמְּבִיאִיםthisלְחַיֵּיthat bringהָעוֹלָםto the life ofהַבָּא.the worldשֶׁאִםto comeלֹאfor ifיִקְנֶהnotפֹּהone acquiresחָכְמָהhereוּמַעֲשִׂיםwisdomטוֹבִיםand deedsאֵיןgoodלוֹthere is notבְּמָהto himיִזְכֶּהwith whatשֶׁנֶּאֱמַרhe will meritקהלתas it is saidטKohelesי9"כִּי10אֵיןforמַעֲשֶׂהthere is noוְחֶשְׁבּוֹןdeedוְדַעַתand accountingוְחָכְמָהand knowledgeבִּשְׁאוֹל".and wisdomוְאִםin the graveעֲזַבְתֶּםand ifאֶתyou abandonedה'—וּשְׁגִיתֶםHashemבְּמַאֲכָלand you went astrayוּבְמִשְׁתֶּהwith foodוּזְנוּתand with drinkוְדוֹמֶהand licentiousnessלָהֶםand the likeמֵבִיאof themעֲלֵיכֶםHe bringsכָּלupon youהַקְּלָלוֹתallהָאֵלּוּthe cursesוּמֵסִירtheseכָּלand He removesהַבְּרָכוֹתallעַדthe blessingsשֶׁיִּכְלוּuntilיְמֵיכֶםthat there will endבְּבֶהָלָהyour daysוָפַחַדin confusionוְלֹאand fearיִהְיֶהand notלָכֶםthere will beלֵבto youפָּנוּיa heartוְלֹאfreeגּוּףand notשָׁלֵםa bodyלַעֲשׂוֹתcompleteהַמִּצְוֹתto performכְּדֵיthe mitzvotשֶׁתֹּאבְדוּin orderמֵחַיֵּיthat you will perishהָעוֹלָםfrom the life ofהַבָּאthe worldוְנִמְצָאto comeשֶׁאִבַּדְתֶּםand it is foundשְׁנֵיthat you lostעוֹלָמוֹת.twoשֶׁבִּזְמַןworldsשֶׁאָדָםfor at the timeטָרוּדthat a personבָּעוֹלָםis troubledהַזֶּהin the worldבְּחלִיthisוּבְמִלְחָמָהwith sicknessוּרְעָבוֹןand with warאֵינוֹand famineמִתְעַסֵּקhe is notלֹאoccupying himselfבַּחָכְמָהneitherוְלֹאwith wisdomבַּמִצְוֹתnorשֶׁבָּהֶןwith mitzvotזוֹכִיןthat through themלְחַיֵּיone meritsהָעוֹלָםto the life ofהַבָּא:the world

This halacha explains that the physical rewards and punishments mentioned in the Torah are not the ultimate reward, but rather conditions to enable or hinder our spiritual pursuit of the World to Come.

הל׳ ב

הַכִּסּוּפִים לִימוֹת הַמָּשִׁיחַ וְהַהֶבְדֵּל מֵהָעוֹלָם הַבָּאHalacha 2 · The Yearning for the Messianic Era and Its Distinction from the World to Come

וּמִפְּנֵיAnd because ofזֶהthisנִתְאַוּוּyearnedכָּלall ofיִשְׂרָאֵלIsraelנְבִיאֵיהֶםtheir prophetsוְחַכְמֵיהֶםand their Sagesלִימוֹתfor the days ofהַמָּשִׁיחַthe Messiahכְּדֵיin orderשֶׁיָּנוּחוּthat they may restמִמַּלְכֻיּוֹתfrom the kingdomsשֶׁאֵינָןthat do notמְנִיחוֹתallowלָהֶןthemלַעֲסֹקto occupy themselvesבַּתּוֹרָהwith the Torahוּבַמִּצְוֹתand with the mitzvosכַּהֹגֶן.properlyוְיִמְצְאוּand they will findלָהֶםfor themselvesמַרְגּוֹעַrestוְיִרְבּוּand they will increaseבְּחָכְמָהin wisdomכְּדֵיin orderשֶׁיִּזְכּוּthat they will meritלְחַיֵּיthe life ofהָעוֹלָםthe Worldהַבָּא.to Comeלְפִיbecauseשֶׁבְּאוֹתָןthat in thoseהַיָּמִיםdaysתִּרְבֶּהwill increaseהַדֵּעָהthe knowledgeוְהַחָכְמָהand the wisdomוְהָאֱמֶתand the truthשֶׁנֶּאֱמַרas it is saidישעיהYeshayahuיא11ט9"כִּיForמָלְאָהfilled isהָאָרֶץthe earthדֵּעָהwith knowledge ofאֶת—ה'".Hashemוְנֶאֱמַרand it is saidירמיהYirmeyahuלא31לג33"וְלֹאAnd notיְלַמְּדוּwill teachאִישׁa manאֶת—אָחִיוhis brotherוְאִישׁand a manאֶת—רֵעֵהוּ".his fellowוְנֶאֱמַרand it is saidיחזקאלYechezkelלו36כו26"וַהֲסִרֹתִיAnd I will removeאֶת—לֵבthe heart ofהָאֶבֶןthe stoneמִבְּשַׂרְכֶם".from your fleshמִפְּנֵיbecauseשֶׁאוֹתוֹthat thatהַמֶּלֶךְkingשֶׁיַּעֲמֹדwho will ariseמִזֶּרַעfrom the seed ofדָּוִדDovidבַּעַלa master ofחָכְמָהwisdomיִהְיֶהwill beיֶתֶרgreaterמִשְּׁלֹמֹה.than Shlomoוְנָבִיאand a prophetגָּדוֹלgreatהוּאhe isקָרוֹבcloseלְמשֶׁהto Mosheרַבֵּנוּ.our teacherוּלְפִיכָךְand thereforeיְלַמֵּדhe will teachכָּלall ofהָעָםthe nationוְיוֹרֶהand instructאוֹתָםthemדֶּרֶךְthe path ofה'.Hashemוְיָבוֹאוּand will comeכָּלall ofהַגּוֹיִםthe nationsלְשָׁמְעוֹto hear himשֶׁנֶּאֱמַרas it is saidישעיהYeshayahuב2ב2"וְהָיָהAnd it shall beבְּאַחֲרִיתin the end ofהַיָּמִיםthe daysנָכוֹןestablishedיִהְיֶהwill beהַרthe mountain ofבֵּיתthe House ofה'Hashemבְּרֹאשׁat the head ofהֶהָרִים".the mountainsוְסוֹףAnd the end ofכָּלall ofהַשָּׂכָרthe rewardכֻּלּוֹentirelyוְהַטּוֹבָהand the goodהָאַחֲרוֹנָהthe ultimateשֶׁאֵיןwhich there is notלָהּto itהֶפְסֵקinterruptionוְגֵרָעוֹןor decreaseהוּאisחַיֵּיthe life ofהָעוֹלָםthe Worldהַבָּא.to Comeאֲבָלbutיְמוֹתthe days ofהַמָּשִׁיחַthe Messiahהוּאisהָעוֹלָםthisהַזֶּהworldוְעוֹלָםand the worldכְּמִנְהָגוֹaccording to its customהוֹלֵךְgoes onאֶלָּאexceptשֶׁהַמַּלְכוּתthat the sovereigntyתַּחֲזֹרwill returnלְיִשְׂרָאֵל.to IsraelוּכְבָרAnd alreadyאָמְרוּsaidחֲכָמִיםthe Sagesהָרִאשׁוֹנִיםthe earlier onesאֵיןThere is no differenceבֵּיןbetweenהָעוֹלָםthisהַזֶּהworldלִימוֹתand the days ofהַמָּשִׁיחַthe Messiahאֶלָּאexceptשִׁעְבּוּדsubjugation toמַלְכֻיּוֹתthe kingdomsבִּלְבַד:alone

The Rambam explains that the Sages and prophets yearned for the Messianic era not for material gain, but to study Torah undisturbed, though the ultimate reward remains the spiritual World to Come.

Chapter Summaryסִכּוּם

The Rambam resolves the apparent contradiction regarding Torah rewards by explaining that the physical blessings promised in this world—such as peace, health, and prosperity—are not the ultimate reward for mitzvos, but rather a divine means to remove obstacles so we can study Torah and gain the wisdom needed to merit the World to Come. Conversely, worldly curses are a form of retribution that deprives the wicked of these conducive conditions, leaving them to forfeit both worlds. This understanding clarifies why Klal Yisrael and our Sages yearn so deeply for the Messianic era: it will be a time of rest from the oppression of the nations, allowing us to freely pursue the knowledge of Hashem under the guidance of Moshiach, a great prophet and teacher who will instruct the entire world in the ways of Hashem.

לְמַעֲשֶׂהWhat To Take Home

My dear talmid, when you look at the physical blessings the Torah promises us, health, peace, and livelihood, you might think these are the ultimate goals of our avodah. But the Rambam teaches us a profound secret about how Hashem runs His world: physical comfort is not your reward; it is your workspace. Hashem promises to clear the obstacles of worry, illness, and financial stress from your path for one reason only, so that you can have a 'lev panui', a free and quiet heart, to learn His Torah and do His mitzvos without distraction.

This means that every moment of ease, every dollar of profit, and every day of good health you are blessed with is actually a divine vote of confidence. Hashem is saying, 'I am giving you this peace so you can use it to build your neshama for the World to Come.' If we take those blessings and use them only to indulge in the physical world, we miss the entire point and risk losing both worlds. Our physical life is the ultimate preparation ground; there is no Torah study or growth in the grave.

Today, look at whatever peace or comfort you have in your life, even a quiet hour or a comfortable room, not just as a convenience, but as a holy gift of time and space given to you by Hashem to connect with Him. Use that quiet moment to learn a halacha or do a chesed with joy.

Takeaway for today: Identify one area of comfort or free time you enjoy today, and consciously dedicate at least five minutes of that quiet space to learning Torah or doing a mitzvah, recognizing that Hashem gave you this peace specifically for this purpose.