Machshava:

Rav Kook,  Reward and Punishment 

Collections: R' Shvat Ain Aya- Rav Kook's commentary on the Aggadeta of Masechet Shabbat

Description

Often Ba'alei Teshuva and yeshiva/midrasha/sem graduates can get overconfident, thinking they have totally "passed the stage" of observing mitzvot because of reward and punishment. Yet our sages teach "one should always do mitzvot for ulterior motives", and the Nefesh HaChaim and Rav Kook innovatively explain this respectively, as well as a difficult midrash regarding Reuven and Bilha to deal with this basic issue in motivation for observance. Great topic for Ellul and Tishrei!