If Hashem Loves Me, Why Not Heaven Without Torah and Mitzvot?

The Jewish people are called the children of Hashem, as it is said, "You are children of the Lord your God" (Devarim 14:1), and certainly, He wishes only for our good. So why did Hashem place us in this world with a path that isn't always easy and straightforward, rather than giving us immediate access to Heaven? Why live a life full of challenges and commandments to fulfill?

The purpose for which Hashem created the world is to benefit His creations, out of His desire to do good. If the soul received the benefit from its Creator without spiritual labor, that benefit would not be complete. It would be like "bread of shame," a free gift.

Therefore, Hashem brought the soul into the world, which is essentially a period of testing for the soul, where it must choose between good and evil. During this life, the soul struggles between wanting to draw closer to Hashem and do His will, contrasted with desires and habits pulling in the opposite direction. The choice of good, the effort to change one's life, the decision to become stronger, and indeed every mitzvah observed ultimately grants the soul its reward in the future, that perfect eternal benefit earned through effort, rather than given freely.

But there is a deeper point here. For the spiritual benefit the Jewish soul is supposed to receive in the future to arrive without the sense of shame that comes with accepting a free gift, we need to create a close relationship with Hashem. To explain by metaphor, a child does not feel ashamed when receiving gifts from their father. In contrast, when a child receives a gift from a teacher or an aunt, there is often a blush and a sense of shyness. The difference lies in the level of closeness between the giver and the receiver. When a deep connection exists, there is joy without shame. This applies to us and our Father in Heaven. If we succeed in creating a profound closeness with Hashem, then the benefit He wishes to give us will be perfect and without shame.

Upon deeper reflection, the goal for which Hashem brought souls into the world is to create a bond and attachment to Him. Only then is the spiritual reward of the world to come received without shame.

How do we form a relationship of love and connection with Hashem? The Ramchal explains at the beginning of his book 'Mesilat Yesharim,' stating: "Man was not created except to delight in Hashem and to enjoy the radiance of His presence, which is the true delight. The place for this delight is truly the world to come, as it was prepared for this. But the way to reach this desired goal is this world. This is what our sages of blessed memory said: (Mishnah Avot 4:16): 'This world is like a corridor before the world to come.' The means that bring a person to this goal are the mitzvot that God, blessed be His name, commanded us. The place to perform the mitzvot is only this world. Therefore, man was placed in this world first, so that through these means available here, he could reach the place prepared for him, which is the world to come, to satisfy himself there with the goodness he has earned through these means."

"This is what our sages of blessed memory said (Eruvin 22): "Today to perform them and tomorrow to receive their reward." And when you look into this matter, you will see that the true perfection is only attachment to Him, blessed be He, as King David said (Tehillim 73:28): "But as for me, the nearness of God is my good." And he said (Tehillim 27:4): "One thing I have asked of Hashem, that I will seek after: that I may dwell in the house of Hashem all the days of my life," for this alone is the good. Everything else that people consider good is only vanity and misguided emptiness. However, when a person merits this goodness, it is appropriate to first labor and endeavor with toil to acquire it, which means striving to attach oneself to Him, blessed be He, through deeds whose results lead to this goal, which are the mitzvot."

The way to create closeness with Hashem is only through the path that He has outlined for us by giving us the Torah. By keeping the Torah and mitzvot alone, a true connection with Hashem can be established, as He Himself determined, as it is said "And now, Israel, what does Hashem your God ask of you, but... to keep the commandments of Hashem and His statutes which I command you today for your good" (Devarim 10:12-13).

Hashem is infinite and perfect, and He does not need our mitzvot. The mitzvot were given for us, for our benefit, out of His love for us. The mitzvot contain divine wisdom, and through them, one can ascend spiritual levels and establish a connection with Him, thereby deserving eternal delight.

A lifestyle aligned with the Torah and the observance of the mitzvot lead to an internal and true connection with Hashem, which is essentially the purpose of our lives on this earth.