Is Judaism mainly process-oriented or goal-oriented?

A talented debater could make out a case on either side. In the sphere of Torah learning, effort outranks achievement in the Divine reckoning. “If someone tells you I laboured in the study of Torah and there was no success, don’t believe him. If he says I didn’t labour and met with success, also don’t believe him!” (Megila 6b). L’fum tsa’ara agra, according to the toil is the reward (Avot 5:26).

Not so when it comes to many mitsvot. Countless hours in Tishri spent sawing, banging, joining, erecting, cutting and positioning are all very well; but if at the end of the day you don’t sit and eat in the succah you’ve painstakingly built, well, it has all been in vain. There is no b’racha on the weaving of the tsitsit-threads, the assembly of the parchments in the mezuza-cases or the baking of the matsa. Only when one achieves the goal of donning the tsitsit, securing the mezuza on the doorpost or consuming the matsa is the blessing there.

In tefila (prayer) both are vital factors. On the one hand our bakashot (requests) are made to G-D in the hope of a successful outcome. On the other hand, in addressing the question how Moses could have pleaded no........

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