importance of mitzvah in judaism?

Answer 1

The performance of mitzvos is the entire reason for our existence. This world is the world of action, and the next world is the world of reward. G-d gives us the priviledge of performing mitzvos, and endows those mitzvos with a cosmic significance so that our actions, in this finite realm, can earn us the reward of basking in the divine presence in the realm of the eternal. Sorry if this answer isn't perfectly clear - the fact is that a proper answer to your question could easily fill several books.

The study of Torah is considered chief amongst those mitzvos given to Jews ("Talmud Torah k'neged culam" - "the study of Torah is equivalent to them all"), perhaps because it facilitates all the other mitzvos. And to say that the performance of mitzvos is "more important than praying or going to temple" is inaccurate precisely because those are mitzvos as well. In Pirkei Avos we are taught to be as scrupulous in the performance of a "minor" mitzvah as a "major" one, because one does not know the reward given for each. Ideally, of course, we should not act as a servant who serves his master for the sake of a reward (again, from Avos), but rather as one who serves not for the sake of the reward, and let the awe of heaven be upon you. That being said, Jews have traditionally been a people of deed over creed, and if one conditions him or herself to do the right thing, even with the motivation of a reward, this is acceptable, and the belief is that one will ultimately come to keep the mitzvos for their own sake. So for example, it's okay to reward one's children with candy for doing well in their studies. There's even an old custom of teaching the Hebrew alphabet by writing the letters in honey on writing surface and letting the child lick them off, so that the letters of Torah will be associated with that sweetness. This principal is equally applicable to adults.

Okay, I think I've gotten a bit off track here, but again, just to re-emphasize the answer, the mitzvah is paramount in Judaism. It is nothing less than the purpose of life itself. The Jew has never bothered himself with questions like "how do I get into heaven?" or "how do I avoid hell?" or even "how do I attain happiness?" The first question the faithful Jew asks is "how can I serve the Creator?" In seeking the answer to that question (to be found in G-d's Torah, and learned from those who keep it), everything else takes care of itself. I hope this helps.

Answer 2

Literally a mitzvah means commandment. Since Judaism is the religion of following the laws of the Torah, performing mitzvot is very definition of Judaism. You really cannot separate the two.

Answer 3

Mitzvah is considered very important, it means A GOOD DEED and is a promise to keep the faith

Answer 4

It is of extreme importance. In fact I was always raised to believe that it was more important then all the praying and going to temple and all that jazz ...

Answer 5

a mitzva is any good deed (though specifically ones commanded by G-d). So, its just about the most important part of our lives.

Answer 6

Right up there with study of Torah.
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