Mitzvah priorities

Hi,

"When one spends his money for a mitzvah, he should examine which mitzvah is of greater importance before Gd... And especially one who does not have the means to spend in great ways, he should see to it that he spends his money for the more important mitzvah, like a good merchant who seeks to clothe his money in the most profitable merchandise."

כשמוציא מעותיו לדבר מצוה יעיין איזו מצוה היא יותר חשובה לפני המקום... ובפרט מי שאין ידו משגת לעשות פזר גדול, יראה במה מוציא את מעותיו שיהא למצוה היותר חשובה, כסוחר טוב שמבקש להלביש מעותיו בסחורה שיש בה ריוח יותר.

(Rabbi Eliezer Pappo, Pele Yoetz, ערך)

Have a great day,

Mordechai

Peace in the home

Hi, "Rava said: It is obvious to me that if person has a choice between (1) acquiring fuel to illuminate his house for Shabbat, and (2) acquiring fuel for the Chanukah menorah, he should acquire fuel to illuminate his house for Shabbat; the importance of household peace overrides the mitzvah of publicizing the miracle of Chanukah. "It is also obvious to me that if a person has a choice between (1) acquiring fuel to illuminate his house for Shabbat, and (2) acquiring wine for kiddush, he should acquire fuel to illuminate his house for Shabbat; the importance of household peace overrides the mitzvah of kiddush." (Talmud, Shabbat 23b) חג אורים שמח, Mordechai

Prioritizing mitzvot

Hi,

"A Torah scholar may not take on optional fasts, because that would decrease his work of Heaven."

(Talmud, Taanit 11b)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

The equality of all mitzvot

Hi,

"Be careful with a light Mitzvah, as you would with a difficult Mitzvah."

(Pirkei Avot 2:1)

The "Tashbetz" commentary explains: The Torah does not list levels of reward for the vast majority of commandments, in the way it lists levels of punishment for violation of prohibitions. This indicates the equivalence of all commandments.

Further, we have a rule that a person involved in one Mitzvah is exempt from all other Mitzvot, regardless of the importance of the individual Mitzvah. (This is suspended in certain specific cases, but the rule is generally true.) This, again, shows that all Mitzvot are equally important.

Have a great day,
Mordechai