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Dear Friends,
In the corporate world, performance reviews are a familiar ritual for anyone working in medium to large companies. Each year, employees undergo evaluations to assess their performance, highlighting areas of strength and identifying opportunities for improvement. However, workplaces are reconsidering how they evaluate performance in our evolving work environment, especially post-COVID, where remote work is commonplace alongside traditional office settings. There is a real danger that biases and skewed evaluations may arise, mainly where individuals in the office receive higher scores simply because they have more face time with their superiors.
At first glance, Parshat Bechukotai reads like a divine performance review: if we observe the Torah, we merit prosperity, peace, and flourishing in Eretz Yisrael; if we don't, the opposite ensues. This raises a significant question that puzzled some of the greatest commentators, including Rambam, Maharsha, and Ohr Hachaim: how do we reconcile this parsha with the conclusion of the Talmud in Kiddushin 39b, which states, "שכר מצוה בהאי עלמא ליכא" – there is no reward for mitzvot in this world, as the reward is in Olam Haba (the world to come)?
Rambam offers a profound insight based on a halacha in Hilchot Taaniyot (1:3), suggesting that if a person views a national tragedy as "merely a natural phenomenon and this difficulty as merely a chance occurrence, this is a cruel conception of things, which causes them to remain attached to their wicked deeds." They adopt a callous outlook that prevents them from examining their own behavior. This perspective can be extrapolated to our daily lives. While we cannot directly attribute specific events to rewards or consequences for our actions, each experience is an opportunity for introspection and personal growth.
Rabbi Soloveitchik is well-known to have said that the appropriate response in challenging times is not to ask "Lamah" (why) but "Lemah" (for what purpose). Rather than focusing on the cause of events, we should reflect on what we can learn from them to improve ourselves. The events in our lives, whether perceived as blessings or curses, are not definitive performance reviews. They should not be seen as indicators of our inherent goodness or shortcomings. Instead, they serve as calls for a "Cheshbon hanefesh," a personal performance review that allows us to assess our actions, learn from our experiences, and strive for personal growth.
Rambam advises us to engage in this introspection, especially during times of crisis. However, when positive things happen in our lives, it is equally important to seize the opportunity for self-reflection. Regular self-performance reviews, whether prompted by challenging or positive experiences, can guide us on a path of growth and resilience. They enable us to improve continuously through both good times and challenging times. Our experiences, whether positive or negative, are not performance evaluations but opportunities for introspection, learning, and growth as we strive to become better versions of ourselves.
Wishing you a wonderful Shabbos,
Rabbi Shlomo Gabay
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