6 Cleave to G-d
Mitzvah 6
Sixth Command: Cleave to G-d
You shall fear the L-rd your G-d; Him shall you serve, and to Him shall you cleave, and swear by His Name: Devarim (Deuteronomy) 10.20
אֶת יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ תִּירָא אֹתוֹ תַעֲבֹד וּבוֹ תִדְבָּק וּבִשְׁמוֹ
אֶת Everything from Aleph to Tav
יְהֹוָה HaShem
אֱלֹהֶיךָ Eloheka
תִּירָא fear
אֹתו Him
תַעֲבֹד you shall serve Him
וּבוֹ and in Him
תִדְבָּק shall cleave
וּבִשְׁמו and in His Name
In general, you should strive to imitate G-d by imitating all facets of His Lovingkindness. Accordingly, I am stipulating that this behavior be an additional aspect of the respect you must accord Him. Previously, I told you that you may only swear in His Name if you revere G-d, your G-d, worship Him, and are attached to Him in love may you swear by His Name.Torah Chumash Devarim Kehot Publication Society Page 62
How can we cleave to G-d? Cleave means to join together, to be one.
Webster says, to adhere firmly and closely or loyally and unwaveringly
How can this word apply to the relationship of mere humans and the Eternal G-d?
Two of the aphorisms of the Baal Shem Tov may help clear this up.
- Cleaving to G‑d is the master-key that opens all locks. Every Jew, including the most simple, possesses the ability to cleave to the words of Torah and prayer, thereby achieving the highest degrees of unity with G‑d.
- G‑d commanded Noah to Enter into the teivah (literally ark, but also word). One should enter into and cleave to the letters and words of Torah and prayer. This will protect the person and his entire extended family, enabling them to receive from G‑d all their necessities.
G-d put Himself in the Torah so when we study Torah we are joining with Him.
In Prayer we connect with G-d, speaking to Him intimately from the depths of our heart.
Mitzvah is usually translated command but it can also mean connection. Performing a mitzvah means that we are connected to and bonded with G-d.
Devarim (Deuteronomy) 30.20
That you may love the L-rd your G-d, and that you may obey His Voice, and that you may cleave to Him; for He IS your life, and the length of your days; that you may live in the land which the L-rd Swore to your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them:
וּשְׁמַרְתֶּם אֶת חֻקֹּתַי וְאֶת מִשְׁפָּטַי אֲשֶׁר יַעֲשֶׂה אֹתָם הָאָדָם וָחַי בָּהֶם אֲנִי יְהֹוָה
You shall Observe – everything from Aleph to Tav – of My Decrees – and everthing from Aleph to Tav – My Laws – that – will do – them – a man – and shall live – in them – I AM – HaShem
You shall therefore keep my statutes, and my judgments; which if a man does, he shall live in them; I AM The L-rd: Vayikra ( Leviticus ) 18.5
וּשְׁמַרְתֶּם אֶת חֻקֹּתַי וַעֲשִׂיתֶם אֹתָם אֲנִי יְהֹוָה מְקַדִּשְׁכֶם
And you shall Observe – everything from Aleph to Tav – My Decrees – and you shall do – everything from Aleph to Tav – I AM – HaShem – who Makes YOU holy.
And you shall keep my statutes, and do them; I AM The L-rd who Sanctifies you: Vayikra ( Leviticus ) 20.8
רְאֵה נָתַתִּי לְפָנֶיךָ הַיּוֹם אֶת הַחַיִּים וְאֶת הַטּוֹב וְאֶת הַמָּוֶת וְאֶת הָרָע:
See – I Gave – before you – today – everything from Aleph to Tav – Ha Chayiym ( the LIFE ) – and everthing from Aleph to Tav – Ha Tov ( the GOOD ) – and everthing from Aleph to Tav – Ha Mavet ( the EVIL )
See, I have set before you this day life and good, and death and evil: Devarim ( Deuteronomy 30.5
The necessity of CHOICE.
We have no choice in our physical death so this can’t mean that. This is a choice between cleaving to G-d and His Ways and His Commands which are Good and choosing the death our our soul.
It is up to each and every one of us to choose the Path of Life and shun the path of death
May we try each day to learn about G-d, to follow His Ways and His Truth
Blessings and Peace
Rebbetzin Revi
