DEUT425 The Torah clearly states that the performance of mitzvot will benefit each person [this verse]. We may not understand the nature of this advantage and we may not even understand how it works, but we can trust the Torah that we do profit in some way and that these rituals are not frivolous. The Midrash (Yayikra Rabbah 13:3) states that the purpose of the Commandments is to purify the Jewish people, which is also reflected in the Mishnah (Mishnah, Makkot 3:16). Just as the purification of any element involves extracting the harmful extraneous matter in order to be left with the highest form of the element, in the spiritual sense, we can look at the Commandments in the same manner. Through the Commandments, we become better people, since the Commandments help us to eliminate spiritual imperfections in our personalities and behavior. Again, we may not precisely understand how this works. But we can readily comprehend that the person who is constantly doing good deeds (mitzvot) to his fellow man will eventually have to become a good person, even if that is not his nature. In fact, even if a person did not believe in God, yet still performed all the Commandments, this person would be an admired human being who is a good and giving person. This can easily be seen by those who observe the details of the Commandments to visit the sick (Shulchan Aruch, Yoreh De'ah 335), help the poor (Shulchan Aruch, Yoreh De'ah 247-259), return lost objects (Shulchan Aruch, Choshen Mishpat 659-671), and a general emphasis (mentioned 36 times in the Torah, Bava Metzia 59b), to assist the downtrodden such as the stranger, the orphan, and the widow.