[Avodah] The Main Idea of Judaism

[David Riceman]

RLL:
> Because it's prohibited.  Prohibited and required acts are defined. 
> Neutral acts aren't.

Your theoretical construct is a pastiche.  We have a principle (mitzva - 
aveirah) which classifies acts as hiyuvim, issurum, and neutral.  We 
have a second principle (for God's sake) which classifies acts as 
virtuous or not.

But why two principles? Each one by itself fully classifies all acts.  
As far as I can tell your only excuse is that you don't approve of the 
concept of a neutral act, but can't jettison the first principle  (the 
Hovoth HaLevavoth expresses a view similar to yours, but one which does 
not suffer from this particular problem).

RYL:
> Since earning a living and supporting one's family is a requirement of 
> Yahadus,  I would consider this as part of your avodas HaShem.

But I fully expect to continue this sort of behavior if I retire someday.

Your argument, unlike RAM's RMB's and RLL's, is independent of motive.  
So lets try a reductio ad absurdum.  Could one not argue similarly that 
since, according to the Rambam, all non-religious action is fated 
(that's how he construes "hakol biydei shamayim hutz miyiras shamayim"), 
any neutral act I perform counts as a virtuous act?

RMB:
> That's why I replied with RSSkop's comment about being able to 
> sanctify recreation, if the recreation is truly and honestly -- without 
> fooling oneself -- in order to be more fit at one's tafqid.

I think RMB's attitude is closer to the mark, but I'll critique it 
anyway.  The Ba'alei Mussar like to advise people to specialize in one 
particular mitzvah (cf. Avos 4:11), and do that particularly assiduously 
and meticulously.  Of course its impossible for one person to do that 
with all mitzvos, since they compete for resources and attention.  RSS 
himself says that he is describing how to implement the mitzva of 
kedoshim tihyu particularly meticulously. But what of the person who 
chooses to specialize in a different mitzva which takes less time?

I started this subthread because RAM asserted that the only possible 
legitimate aspiration for a Jew is to be a "*total* oveid Hashem".  I 
have always been willing to concede that it is a legitimate aspiration, 
but I strongly disagree that it's the ONLY legitimate aspiration.

David Riceman