Q. Kvod Horav Shlit’a. How important is it to learn and understand the reasons and rational motives why we comply with a mitzva as described in sefarim like the Chinuch. I understand it is not essential since only Kavana and intention to comply is necessary on positive Biblical mitzvos. Should one spend learning time that could be used for learning the Halachos of the mitzva on the above?

A. We do find often in Talmud that our Sages wrote and explained the reasons of many mitzvos. As the Gemara also teaches a difference of opinion between sages. Rabi Shimon would indeed usually learn the reasons of the posuk, while Rabi Yehuda did not.

Recently we learned in the beginning of Baba Metzia an unwritten Torah reasoning, why when one partially offers confession to owing some of the money he is being charged in a loan, he must take an oath.

However, he Talmud (Sanhedrin 21b), quotes R’ Yitzchak explaining why the reasons of the mitzvos were not revealed in the Torah. Since in two cases when they were actually given (The king avoiding having too many horses or too many wives} even King Salomon, the wisest of all men stumbled and blundered in keeping them.

Even Ezra (Yesod Moreh 8) maintains a similar position.

Horav Shlomo Miller’s Shlit’a opinion is that when providing a reason would help the learning and understanding of our Torah. specially for a younger group it is accepted. And welcomed.

Rabbi A. Bartfeld as revised by Horav Dovid Pam, Horav Aharon Miller, Horav Chanoch Ehrentreu Shlit’a and Horav Kalman Ochs Shlit’a.