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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 () is an Abrahamic religions, Abrahamic, Monotheism, monotheistic, ethnic religion that comprises the collective spiritual, cultural, and legal traditions of the Jews, Jewish people. Religious Jews regard Judaism as their means of o ...
that following one commandment leads to another. The saying is found in the
mishnah The Mishnah or the Mishna (; , from the verb ''šānā'', "to study and review", also "secondary") is the first written collection of the Jewish oral traditions that are known as the Oral Torah. Having been collected in the 3rd century CE, it is ...
in ''
Pirkei Avot Pirkei Avot (; also transliterated as ''Pirqei Avoth'' or ''Pirkei Avos'' or ''Pirke Aboth'', also ''Abhoth''), which translates into English as Chapters of the Fathers, is a compilation of the ethical teachings and maxims from Rabbinic Jewis ...
'' 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. A 1903 paper in the '' American Journal of Psychology'' defined a "habit, from the standpoint of psychology, ...
, 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'' (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 makes a tzedakah donation, or places money in a pushka ( tzedaka collection box). This act is seen by others, who in turn are inspired to place money in the box. * A person helps someone in need, and feels good, and therefore continues to help others. * After giving tzedakah, one realizes the power of a charitable act, and then one develops a continual habit of performing good deeds. * After receiving an act of kindness, the recipient wishes to repay the good they have experienced, and in turn acts kindly towards another person, and the chain of good deeds continues.


See also

*
Karma Karma (, from , ; ) is an ancient Indian concept that refers to an action, work, or deed, and its effect or consequences. In Indian religions, the term more specifically refers to a principle of cause and effect, often descriptively called ...
* Law of Threefold Return *
Golden Rule The Golden Rule is the principle of treating others as one would want to be treated by them. It is sometimes called an ethics of reciprocity, meaning that one should reciprocate to others how one would like them to treat the person (not neces ...
* Violence begets violence


References

Jewish philosophy Mitzvoth Hebrew words and phrases in Jewish law {{Hebrew-lang-stub