Mitzva Bo Yoter Mi’bishlucho: Do Mitzvot Yourself

The term mitzva bo yoter mi’bishlucho refers to the concept that it is preferable to perform mitzvot oneself rather than to appoint an agent to perform them on one’s behalf. (1) It is also commendable to personally take part in the preliminary preparations needed for mitzvot, such as to personally grind the wheat or draw the water used to make the matza that one will eat, and the like. (2)

Among the reasons that it is preferable for one to perform mitzvot oneself rather than by means of an agent is because delegating the performance of a mitzva to an agent is said to be unbecoming and possibly degrading to the mitzva. Furthermore, one who is personally involved in a mitzva receives more reward than one who is only indirectly involved.(3)

Nevertheless, if delegating the performance of a mitzva to an agent will bring more honor to the mitzva, or if the mitzva will be performed in a more thorough or meticulous manner, then it is permissible to do so. A classic example of this is that one who does not know how to properly perform a brit mila should not perform it on one’s son oneself! Rather, one should appoint an expert mohel to do so instead.

That being said, delegating the performance of a mitzva to someone else to do it on one’s behalf is sometimes completely justified and one fulfills the mitzva when it is done by others. The Talmud is full of such examples, such as appointing an agent to light one’s Chanuka candles, to betroth a woman, and to inspect one’s home for chametz before Pesach. 

Of course, there are many mitzvot that simply cannot be performed by an agent, such as the mitzva to eat matza, to observe Shabbat, or to put on tefillin .

One should always make efforts to personally participate in a mitzva even if only in part. For example, even one who has many servants should personally make some preparations for Shabbat. The Talmud tells us that Rav Abahu would fan the fire for cooking, Rav Safra would roast the meat, Raba would salt the fish, and Rav Huna would prepare the candles. They all had servants who could have done these jobs for them, but they preferred to handle the tasks themselves owing to the value of performing mitzvot oneself, especially those in honor of Shabbat. (6)

It is permitted, to delegate the performance of a mitzva to someone who may otherwise never have the opportunity to perform that mitzva. For example, most people never get the opportunity to perform the mitzva of kisui hadam (covering the blood). Hence, many shochtim will allow onlookers to cover the blood after slaughtering a chicken even though the mitzva truly “belongs” to the shochet.

1 Kiddushin 41a.

2 Rema, OC 453:8; Magen Avraham 453:12. But see Pnei Yehoshua to Berachot 18.

3 Rashi, Kiddushin 41a.

4  Magen Avraham 251:2.

5  Aruch Hashulchan , OC 250:3.

6 Shabbat 119a; Rambam, Hilchot Shabbat 30:6.