{"id":1289,"date":"2021-04-25T13:13:08","date_gmt":"2021-04-25T13:13:08","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/jewishpath.org\/wordpress\/?page_id=1289"},"modified":"2021-05-22T16:30:47","modified_gmt":"2021-05-22T16:30:47","slug":"3-love-of-g-d","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"http:\/\/jewishpath.org\/wordpress\/3-love-of-g-d","title":{"rendered":"3 Love of G-d"},"content":{"rendered":"

Mitzvah 3<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0 Love of G-d<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u05d5\u05b0\u05d0\u05b8\u05d4\u05b7\u05d1\u05b0\u05ea\u05bc\u05b8 \u05d0\u05b5\u05ea \u05d9\u05b0\u05d4\u05b9\u05d5\u05b8\u05d4 \u05d0\u05b1\u05dc\u05b9\u05d4\u05b6\u05d9\u05da\u05b8 \u05d1\u05bc\u05b0\u05db\u05b8\u05dc \u05dc\u05b0\u05d1\u05b8\u05d1\u05b0\u05da\u05b8 \u05d5\u05bc\u05d1\u05b0\u05db\u05b8\u05dc \u05e0\u05b7\u05e4\u05b0\u05e9\u05c1\u05b0\u05da\u05b8 \u05d5\u05bc\u05d1\u05b0\u05db\u05b8\u05dc\u05de\u05b0\u05d0\u05b9\u05d3\u05b6\u05da\u05b8<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

And you shall love ( vahavta ) \u2013 everything from Aleph to Tav \u2013 HaShem \u2013 Elohecha \u2013 with all \u2013 your heart \u2013 and with all \u2013 Nafshcha (soul) \u2013 and with all \u2013 your might.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

And you shall love the L-rd, your G-d, with all your heart and with all your soul, and with all your means.\u00a0 Devarim (Deuteronomy) 6.5<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u05d5\u05b0\u05d0\u05b8\u05d4\u05b7\u05d1\u05b0\u05ea\u05bc\u05b8<\/span><\/p>\n

Vehavta<\/span><\/p>\n

And you shall love \u2013<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

Love \u2013 Vav \u2013 aleph \u2013 heh – vet – tet; devote completely to another <\/span>
\n1. Loving Bereishit (Genesis) 37.4<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u05d5\u05b7\u05d9\u05bc\u05b4\u05e8\u05b0\u05d0\u05d5\u05bc \u05d0\u05b6\u05d7\u05b8\u05d9\u05d5 \u05db\u05bc\u05b4\u05d9 \u05d0\u05b9\u05ea\u05d5\u05b9 \u05d0\u05b8\u05d4\u05b7\u05d1 \u05d0\u05b2\u05d1\u05b4\u05d9\u05d4\u05b6\u05dd \u05de\u05b4\u05db\u05bc\u05b8\u05dc \u05d0\u05b6\u05d7\u05b8\u05d9\u05d5 \u05d5\u05b7\u05d9\u05bc\u05b4\u05e9\u05c2\u05b0\u05e0\u05b0\u05d0\u05d5\u05bc \u05d0\u05b9\u05ea\u05d5 \u05d5\u05b0\u05dc\u05b9\u05d0 \u05d9\u05b8\u05db\u05b0\u05dc\u05d5\u05bc \u05d3\u05bc\u05b7\u05d1\u05bc\u05b0\u05e8\u05d5\u05b9 \u05dc\u05b0\u05e9\u05c1\u05b8\u05dc\u05b9\u05dd:<\/span><\/p>\n

37:4 And his brothers saw that their father loved him more than all his brothers, so they hated him, and they could not speak with him peacefully.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

    \n
  1. relating intimately Devarim(Deuteronomy) 6.5, also Bereishit (Genesis) 22.2, Vavikra (Leviticus) 19.18.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

     <\/p>\n

    \u05d5\u05b0\u05d0\u05b8\u05d4\u05b7\u05d1\u05b0\u05ea\u05bc\u05b8 \u05d0\u05b5\u05ea \u05d9\u05b0\u05d4\u05b9\u05d5\u05b8\u05d4 \u05d0\u05b1\u05dc\u05b9\u05d4\u05b6\u05d9\u05da\u05b8 \u05d1\u05bc\u05b0\u05db\u05b8\u05dc \u05dc\u05b0\u05d1\u05b8\u05d1\u05b0\u05da\u05b8 \u05d5\u05bc\u05d1\u05b0\u05db\u05b8\u05dc \u05e0\u05b7\u05e4\u05b0\u05e9\u05c1\u05b0\u05da\u05b8 \u05d5\u05bc\u05d1\u05b0\u05db\u05b8\u05dc \u05de\u05b0\u05d0\u05b9\u05d3\u05b6\u05da\u05b8<\/span><\/p>\n

    \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

    6.5 And you shall love the L-rd, your G-d, with all your heart and with all your soul, and with all your means.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

     <\/p>\n

    Bereishit (Genesis) 22.2<\/span><\/p>\n

    \u05d5\u05b7\u05d9\u05bc\u05b9\u05d0\u05de\u05b6\u05e8 \u05e7\u05b7\u05d7 \u05e0\u05b8\u05d0 \u05d0\u05b6\u05ea \u05d1\u05bc\u05b4\u05e0\u05b0\u05da\u05b8 \u05d0\u05b6\u05ea \u05d9\u05b0\u05d7\u05b4\u05d9\u05d3\u05b0\u05da\u05b8 \u05d0\u05b2\u05e9\u05c1\u05b6\u05e8 \u05d0\u05b8\u05d4\u05b7\u05d1\u05b0\u05ea\u05bc\u05b8 \u05d0\u05b6\u05ea \u05d9\u05b4\u05e6\u05b0\u05d7\u05b8\u05e7 \u05d5\u05b0\u05dc\u05b6\u05da\u05b0 \u05dc\u05b0\u05da\u05b8 \u05d0\u05b6\u05dc \u05d0\u05b6\u05e8\u05b6\u05e5 \u05d4\u05b7\u05de\u05bc\u05b9\u05e8\u05b4\u05d9\u05bc\u05b8\u05d4 \u05d5\u05b0\u05d4\u05b7\u05e2\u05b2\u05dc\u05b5\u05d4\u05d5\u05bc \u05e9\u05c1\u05b8\u05dd \u05dc\u05b0\u05e2\u05b9\u05dc\u05b8\u05d4 \u05e2\u05b7\u05dc \u05d0\u05b7\u05d7\u05b7\u05d3 \u05d4\u05b6\u05d4\u05b8\u05e8\u05b4\u05d9\u05dd \u05d0\u05b2\u05e9\u05c1\u05b6\u05e8 \u05d0\u05b9\u05de\u05b7\u05e8 \u05d0\u05b5\u05dc\u05b6\u05d9\u05da\u05b8<\/span><\/p>\n

    22.2 And He said, Please take your son, your only one, whom you love, yea, Isaac, and go away to the land of Moriah and bring him up there for a burnt offering on one of the mountains, of which I will tell you<\/em>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

     <\/p>\n

    Vayikra (Leviticus) 19.18<\/span><\/p>\n

    \u05dc\u05b9\u05d0 \u05ea\u05b4\u05e7\u05bc\u05b9\u05dd \u05d5\u05b0\u05dc\u05b9\u05d0 \u05ea\u05b4\u05d8\u05bc\u05b9\u05e8 \u05d0\u05b6\u05ea \u05d1\u05bc\u05b0\u05e0\u05b5\u05d9 \u05e2\u05b7\u05de\u05bc\u05b6\u05da\u05b8 \u05d5\u05b0\u05d0\u05b8\u05d4\u05b7\u05d1\u05b0\u05ea\u05bc\u05b8 \u05dc\u05b0\u05e8\u05b5\u05e2\u05b2\u05da\u05b8 \u05db\u05bc\u05b8\u05de\u05d5\u05b9\u05da\u05b8 \u05d0\u05b2\u05e0\u05b4\u05d9 \u05d9\u05b0\u05d4\u05b9\u05d5\u05b8\u05d4:<\/span><\/p>\n

    \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

    18 You shall neither take revenge from nor bear a grudge against the members of your people; you shall love your neighbor as yourself. I AM The L-rd.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

     <\/p>\n

    From Aleph to Tav, from Beginning to the End, Love Havayah your Elokim with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your might.<\/span><\/p>\n

    We are commanded to love G-d, to dwell upon and contemplate His Mitzvot, His Injunctions, and His Works, so that we may obtain a conception of Him, and in conceiving Him attain absolute joy. This constitutes the Love of G-d, and is obligatory.<\/span><\/p>\n

    As the Sifre says: Since it is said<\/em>, And you shall love Hashem your G-d<\/em> Devarim (Deuteronomy 6.5), the question arises, how is one to manifest his love for Hashem? Scripture therefore says: And these words which I Command you this day, shall be upon your heart<\/em> (Devarim – Deuteronomy 6.6); for through this (i.e., the contemplation of G-d\u2019s Words) you will learn to discern Him whose Word called the Universe into existence.<\/span><\/p>\n

    The Sages say that this Mitzvah also includes an obligation to call upon all mankind to serve Him (Baruch Hu), and to have faith in Him. For just as you praise and extol anybody whom you love, and call upon others also to love him, so, if you love Hashem to the extent of the conception of His true nature to which you have attained, you will undoubtedly call upon the foolish and ignorant to seek knowledge of the Truth which you have already acquired.<\/span><\/p>\n

    As the Sifre says: And you shall love Hashem your G-d<\/em> (Bereisheit – Genesis 12.5; Devarim 6.5): this means that you should make Him beloved of man as Avraham your father did, as it is said, And the souls they had gotten in Charan.<\/em> (Sifre) That is to say, just as Avraham, being a lover of Hashem – as Scripture testifies, Avraham My friend<\/em> (Yeshayahu – Isaiah 41.8) – by the power of his conception of G-d, and out of his great love for Him, summoned mankind to believe, you too must so love Him as to summon mankind unto Him. Ramban Maimoides The Commendments Volume 1 page 3-4<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

     <\/p>\n

    This is the second Torah verse of the Shema.<\/span><\/p>\n

    What exactly is going on when we say these words? What are we trying accomplish by praying this phrase?<\/span><\/p>\n

    This is the mitzvah of Yichud: To constantly unify everything in creation with Him, for, He fills the entire world with His Glory<\/em> (Yeshayahu – Isaiah 6.3), until it is completely apparent below that G-d alone will have been exalted<\/em> (Tehillim – Psalms148.13), and this is the rectification that will occur in the future, when all the spiritual impurity will disappear, and all of creation will become holy to G-d and Unified with Him. (Leshem, HaKadosh, Sha’ar 7, Perek 6:2)<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

    As the rabbis teach, the word \u05dc\u05b0\u05d1\u05b8\u05d1\u05b0\u05da\u05b8<\/span> l’vavecha<\/em> (lamed-vet-vet-chof) has an extra vet,<\/em> because, we have two inclinations: a yetzer tov and a yetzer hara, which represent the two sides of our heart. One vet corresponds to the yetzer tov, the other vet corresponds to the yetzer hara. This is why the Shema commands us that with both inclinations we must learn to love G-d and to serve Him.<\/span><\/p>\n

    One heart means One G-d. When every aspect of our lives reflects a single belief, a single lifestyle consistent with the Will of G-d, everywhere, and, at all times, it is then that we will have testified to the belief in a Single G-d. A divided heart gives the impression of a divided belief, a belief in more than one god or a divided god.<\/span><\/p>\n

    The word ECHAD<\/em><\/strong>, which means ONE<\/em><\/strong> is equal in gematria to the number thirteen. So, too, does the word ahavah<\/em><\/strong>, which means love<\/em><\/strong> equal thirteen. Love means unification with the object of our love, and unification with G-d means a unified heart in belief and devotion.<\/span><\/p>\n

    And, just to end off on a Kabbalistic note, the word ECHAD<\/em><\/strong> is spelled: aleph- chet-dalet. In Kabbalah, the letter aleph<\/em><\/strong> corresponds to the highest sefirah, Keter<\/em>. Chet<\/em> represents the eight sefirot below Keter (Chochmah, Binah, Chesed, Gevurah, Tifferet, Netzach, Hod, and Yesod), until the last sefirah, Malchut. The letter dalet<\/em>, in Kabbalah, always represents Malchut<\/em>.<\/span><\/p>\n

     <\/p>\n

    Jews look to make many into ONE while Gentiles look to make ONE into many.<\/span><\/p>\n

    The Shema tells us the G-d is ONE, gentiles say god is three.<\/span><\/p>\n

     <\/p>\n

    Hence, the message of the Shema:<\/span><\/p>\n

    From the very top of creation until the very bottom of creation, even in the darkest, most physical parts of existence, you must know and be real with G-d’s Oneness. There is never a place that G-d isn’t, just places where it is not proper to think about Him. There is never a time when G-d isn’t, just times when He doesn’t seem apparent to us.<\/span><\/p>\n

     <\/p>\n

    The attainment of Love of HaShem is dependant upon study of Torah and Mitzvot and Creation.\u00a0 We are commanded to love G-d, to dwell upon and contemplate His Commandments, His Injunctions, and His Works, so that we may obtain a conception of Him, and in conceiving Him attain absolute joy.\u00a0 As previously stated it is through contemplation of G-d\u2019s Words you will learn to discern Him whose Word Called the universe into existence.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

     <\/p>\n

    This Commandment directly follows the Shema in Ha Torah.\u00a0 It is the fourth constant Commandment.\u00a0 Love of HaShem is the emotion that motivates the fulfillment of all the 248 Positive Commandments of Ha Torah.\u00a0 This Commandment is a natural result of contemplating HaShem\u2019s Unity.<\/span><\/p>\n

    Since emotion is not under the control of the mind, how is it that this can be a Commandment?\u00a0 Ha Torah Mandates us to first contemplate the Unity and Greatness of HaShem, a contemplation that is intended to spontaneously arouse Love for Him.\u00a0 If G-d is in fact the Ultimate Source of all reality, who could desire to love anything other that Him?\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

     <\/p>\n

    This Commandment would be placed on the right side, the side of mercy.\u00a0 The right side also corresponds to south, which symbolizes a feeling of warmth toward G-d.\u00a0 In Hassidic teachings, the experience of warmth is called love like fire<\/em>.\u00a0 The gematria of this entire phrase with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might<\/em> is identical with that of the Hebrew word for flame<\/em> ( shalhevet).\u00a0 The sages allude to the ever-ascending love for G-d as a fully ignited flame.<\/em>\u00a0 One ignites the flame of love by meditating on the Unity of G-d.\u00a0 Without meditation we may manifest love like water<\/em>, but only by the deep and sincere meditation of the heart, searching for G-d with our entire being, do we bear in our soul love like fire.<\/em>\u00a0 Love like water<\/em> is like the love of brother and sister; love like fire<\/em> is like the love of husband and wife.<\/span><\/p>\n

     <\/p>\n

    G-d Created light, the source of warmth, on the first day of Creation, Yom Rishon, the day that corresponds to the sefirah of Chesed.\u00a0 The sages teach that G-d hid the original light, for this light is indeed the Divine Creative Power of love with which G\u2013d Created all of reality.\u00a0 If G-d\u2019s Infinite Love for every one of His Creations was to be revealed, no being could exist as an independent entity.\u00a0 This would negate G-d\u2019s ultimate Purpose in Creation, that He Dwell in the lower realms, in a world that possesses an independent sense of self.\u00a0 The equivalence of the Original Light of Creation with G-d\u2019s Love for Creation is reflected in the fact that the very word for love<\/em> in Hebrew, ahavah, is an acronym for Or HaKadosh Baruch Hu<\/em>, meaning the light of the Holy One, Blessed Be He.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

     <\/p>\n

    In summary, there are three ascending levels of love for G-d.<\/span><\/p>\n

     <\/p>\n

      \n
    1. With all your heart<\/span><\/li>\n
    2. With all your soul<\/span><\/li>\n
    3. With all your might<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

       <\/p>\n

      With all your heart \u2013 with both inclinations.<\/span><\/p>\n

      With all your soul \u00a0\u00a0\u2013 even if He Takes your soul<\/span><\/p>\n

      With all your might \u2013 with every measure that He Measures to you.<\/span><\/p>\n

      Living in Divine Space\u00a0 Rabbi Yiyzchak Ginsburgh pages52-53<\/span><\/p>\n

       <\/p>\n

      Yesterday is history.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

      Tomorrow a mystery.\u00a0\u00a0
      \nToday is a gift.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

      That’s why it’s called the present!<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

      Live and savor every moment…\u00a0 This is not a dress rehearsal!<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

      \u00a0<\/p>\n

       <\/p>\n

      May we try each day to learn about G-d, to follow His Ways and His Truth<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

       <\/p>\n

      \"\"<\/p>\n

      Blessings and Peace<\/span><\/p>\n

      Rebbetzin Revi<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

      Mitzvah 3 \u00a0 \u00a0 Love of G-d \u05d5\u05b0\u05d0\u05b8\u05d4\u05b7\u05d1\u05b0\u05ea\u05bc\u05b8 \u05d0\u05b5\u05ea \u05d9\u05b0\u05d4\u05b9\u05d5\u05b8\u05d4 \u05d0\u05b1\u05dc\u05b9\u05d4\u05b6\u05d9\u05da\u05b8 \u05d1\u05bc\u05b0\u05db\u05b8\u05dc \u05dc\u05b0\u05d1\u05b8\u05d1\u05b0\u05da\u05b8 \u05d5\u05bc\u05d1\u05b0\u05db\u05b8\u05dc \u05e0\u05b7\u05e4\u05b0\u05e9\u05c1\u05b0\u05da\u05b8 \u05d5\u05bc\u05d1\u05b0\u05db\u05b8\u05dc\u05de\u05b0\u05d0\u05b9\u05d3\u05b6\u05da\u05b8   And you shall love ( vahavta ) \u2013 everything from Aleph to Tav…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":3,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[51],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1289","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry","category-613-mitzvot"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/jewishpath.org\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1289","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/jewishpath.org\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/jewishpath.org\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/jewishpath.org\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/jewishpath.org\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1289"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"http:\/\/jewishpath.org\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1289\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1295,"href":"http:\/\/jewishpath.org\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1289\/revisions\/1295"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/jewishpath.org\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1289"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/jewishpath.org\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1289"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/jewishpath.org\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1289"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}