Schar (שכר) — the reward of the mitzvah
Core definition
Schar ("reward") in Chassidus is not an external payment but the essence of the mitzvah itself, revealed in the future: "schar mitzvah mitzvah" (Avos 4:2) — "the mitzvah itself drawn/revealed — the mitzvah itself is the reward, revealed in the future" [58837/maamar_058 :: Chunk 3 summary]. The reward is "the drawing-down of sovev kol almin" — the pre-tzimtzum, indivisible light — "which is the whole purpose of mitzvos (the Supernal Will)" [31678/maamar_013 :: Summary — p. 86].
How the Rebbeim develop it
"No reward in this world." "'schar mitzvah behai alma leika' (there is no reward of a mitzvah in this world)" (Kiddushin 39b) [58837/maamar_058 :: §646; 31678/maamar_013 :: §140]. The reason: "in this physical world there cannot be drawn down anything but a radiance from the aspect of memale kol almin (the light that fills all worlds)" — "this world can receive only a radiance of memale kol almin — the contracted, measured, divisible light — never the revelation of sovev kol almin, which shines as it is, without division, and cannot be received by worlds" [31678/maamar_013 :: §146; Summary — p. 85]. So "schar mitzvah behai alma leika" — "only fruits/radiance here; Gan Eden is only a radiance" [58837/maamar_058 :: Chunk 3 summary]. The reward "can only be revealed in the future, in the seventh millennium ('and one shall be destroyed,' when the world sheds corporeality)" [31678/maamar_013 :: Summary — p. 86].
Meanwhile, in avodah. "For now, avodah only adds lights in Atzilus, where even Atzilus cannot receive the light — the hamshachah merely 'stands' (as in 'his righteousness stands forever'), and the makif upon the mitzvah-doer stays concealed (though it draws him to further mitzvos)" [31678/maamar_013 :: Summary — p. 86]. Even the memale light "is unfelt below due to materiality; refining the body lets one feel the Divine vitality, perceive hashgachah pratis, and see Divinity through the world — but all this remains within memale" [31678/maamar_013 :: Summary — p. 85].
The seed parable. Mitzvos are seed: "zara... lehanchilam le'asid lavo" — "'lehanchilam' = the mitzvah itself drawn/revealed — 'schar mitzvah mitzvah'"; the mitzvah is planted now and "revealed in the future" [58837/maamar_058 :: Chunk 3 summary]. What is revealed is "the essence = ta'amei Torah/mitzvos (Rashi on 'yishakeni'), pnimius haratzon and pnimius ha'Oneg — revealed in the future through doing mitzvos now, souls below as 'eretz chefetz'" [58837/maamar_058 :: Chunk 3 summary].
The miracle. "A miracle, however, is a fresh giluy of sovev — literally the same hamshachah as schar mitzvah — which is why a miracle can 'deduct' from one's merits" [31678/maamar_013 :: Summary — p. 86]. The maamar resolves the Talmudic puzzle of "they deduct from his merits": how can a miracle deduct "if there is no reward for a mitzvah in this world"? — "answered by identifying schar mitzvah as the future revelation of sovev kol almin... a miracle is a present, localized flash of that very giluy, hence it can draw on one's 'account'" [31678/maamar_013 :: Overview].
Key distinctions
- Schar vs. wages: reward is not external compensation but the mitzvah's own essence (sovev, ta'amei haTorah, pnimius haratzon) [58837/maamar_058 :: Chunk 3 summary; 31678/maamar_013 :: Summary — p. 86].
- Here vs. future: in this world only "fruits/radiance" (a memale radiance); the reward proper only when the world sheds corporeality [58837/maamar_058 :: Chunk 3 summary; 31678/maamar_013 :: Summary — p. 85].
- Miracle vs. reward: the miracle is a present, localized flash of the future's giluy — hence deduction [31678/maamar_013 :: Overview].
Related concepts
- Mitzvos, sovev kol almin, the World to Come, the seventh millennium, miracles, "mitzvah goreret mitzvah," ta'amei haTorah, the Supernal Will.