Eruvin 22 – Just Do It

There is a discussion on this page about a traditional ruling that “In the Land of Israel not guilt is incurred on account of [moving objects] in a public domain.” The implication being that there is a natural eruv around it. Or perhaps that it is the steep inclines which are not considered “public” because they are relatively inaccessible. Joshua, in this account, established unique public and private roads – so that this could only be meaningful in the Holy Land (remember that the Babylonian Talmud is written in. . . Babylon).

But it is this statement I want to call out:

R. Joshua b. Levi stated: What [is the implication of] what was written: (You shall therefore keep the commandments, and the statutes, and the judgments,) which I command thee this day, to do them? (Deut. 7:11)

‘This day [you are] to do them’ but you cannot postpone doing them for tomorrow; (i.e. after death)  

‘this day [you are in a position] to do them’ and tomorrow [is reserved] for receiving reward for [doing] them.

Why does the text bother to include the unnecessary “this day”? To remind us that mitzvot cannot be performed after death – it is our responsibility to do them now. And the reward, according to this view, is not in this world but in the World to Come.

Just do it.