The Hebrew phrase ''mitzvah goreret mitzvah, averah goreret averah'' (Hebrew: מצווה גוררת מצווה, עברה גוררת עברה; "one good deed will bring another good deed, one transgression will bring another transgression") expresses the belief in
Judaism
Judaism ( he, ''Yahăḏūṯ'') is an Abrahamic, monotheistic, and ethnic religion comprising the collective religious, cultural, and legal tradition and civilization of the Jewish people. It has its roots as an organized religion in t ...
that following one
commandment leads to another. The saying is found in the
mishnah
The Mishnah or the Mishna (; he, מִשְׁנָה, "study by repetition", from the verb ''shanah'' , or "to study and review", also "secondary") is the first major written collection of the Jewish oral traditions which is known as the Oral Tor ...
in ''
Pirkei Avot
Pirkei Avot ( he, פִּרְקֵי אָבוֹת; also transliterated as ''Pirqei Avoth'' or ''Pirkei Avos'' or ''Pirke Aboth''), which translates to English as Chapters of the Fathers, is a compilation of the ethical teachings and maxims from ...
'' 4:2.
There are several ways in which such an effect can take place. One can be as a result of inspiration, in which the act of a mitzvah is witnessed by others, who in turn, follow in their footsteps. Another is by
habit
A habit (or wont as a humorous and formal term) is a routine of behavior that is repeated regularly and tends to occur subconsciously. , in which a person becomes accustomed to performing a mitzvah regularly.
The contrast to this belief is called ''averah goreret averah'' in which the commission of an ''
aveira
In Hebrew, the feminine noun ''aveira'' or ''averah'' ( he, עבירה pl. ''aveirot'' ) is a transgression or sin against man or God. The word comes from the Hebrew root ayin-bet-resh, meaning to ''pass'' or ''cross over'' with the implied me ...
'' (sin) leads to another sin.
The phrase has often been used in songs for children to encourage the performance of good works. One popular song, written by Andy Vogel in 1986, was recorded on the Reform Jewish movement's "NFTY at 50" album,
and is widely sung in the Reform Jewish movement.
Examples
* A person places money in a pushka (
tzedaka
''Tzedakah'' or ''Ṣedaqah'' ( he, צדקה ) is a Hebrew word meaning "righteousness", but commonly used to signify ''charity''. This concept of "charity" differs from the modern Western understanding of "charity". The latter is typically un ...
collection box). This is seen by others, who in turn are inspired to place money in the box.
* A person helps someone in need, and feels good about themself and therefore continues to do help others.
See also
*
Law of Threefold Return The Rule of Three (also Three-fold Law or Law of Return) is a religious tenet held by some Wiccans, Neo-Pagans and occultists. It states that whatever energy a person puts out into the world, be it positive or negative, will be returned to that per ...
*
Golden Rule
References
Jewish philosophy
Mitzvoth
Hebrew words and phrases in Jewish law
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