Beyond The Law

The Gemorah Berachos (35b) says according to Rashbi, one should be learning all day long.  The gemorah asks from the second parsha of shema where it says ואספת דגנך ותירשך ויצהרך.  The Gemorah answers that the possuk is talking about אין עושין רצונו של מקום.  Tosfos asks how can this be, it says והיה אם שמע תשמעו אל מצותי אשר אנכי מצוה אתכם היום, it’s talking about when we are doing the רצון of Hashem?  My father always likes to say the answer is that yes, all the mitzvot are being fulfilled but its not considered עושין רצונו של מקום.  There can be someone that keeps every letter in the Shulchan Aruch but is still not doing all that Hashem wants.  There is more than just the letter of the law; that is what’s missing.

Everyone asks that in the first parsha of Shema it says ובכל מאודך but in the second parsha it doesn’t appear; why?  In this vein we may suggest that בכל לבבך ובכל נפשך, albeit a great level, but it still it not going above and beyond the basic law.  It is בכל מאודך, which the Ramban explains as giving all your מאד, giving above and beyond what the law requires which shows a person’s true service of Hashem.  That is in the first parsha only which is עושיו רצונו של מקום. 

The possuk says (11:14) וְנָתַתִּ֧י מְטַֽר־אַרְצְכֶ֛ם בְּעִתּ֖וֹ יוֹרֶ֣ה וּמַלְק֑וֹשׁ וְאָסַפְתָּ֣ דְגָנֶ֔ךָ וְתִֽירֹשְׁךָ֖ וְיִצְהָרֶֽךָ.  In Bechukosai, it says (26:4,) וְנָתַתִּ֥י גִשְׁמֵיכֶ֖ם בְּעִתָּ֑ם וְנָתְנָ֤ה הָאָ֙רֶץ֙ יְבוּלָ֔הּ וְעֵ֥ץ הַשָּׂדֶ֖ה יִתֵּ֥ן פִּרְיֽוֹ.  The Likutay Sichos volume 19 sicha 4 has a דיוק in the possuk; here it says ונתתי מטר ארצכם, the rain of the land, it fits with the nature.  In Bechukosai, it says וְנָתַתִּ֥י גִשְׁמֵיכֶ֖ם בְּעִתָּ֑ם, your rain, not built into the nature, rain specific for you.  What's the difference?  In Ekev, the rain is good, but fits with the nature just as you are fulfilling the laws of Hashem according to your nature, following the law exactly.  However, in Bechukosai, its referring to one who goes above the requirement of the law, one who is עמל בתורה.  Therefore, the rain is not rain for the land, rain of nature, it's your rain, a miracle rain tailor-made for your needs.  See there how he explains the differences in Rashi based upon this. 

In the words of the Maggid of Mezeritch: