{"id":672,"date":"2020-02-27T23:21:13","date_gmt":"2020-02-27T23:21:13","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/jewishpath.org\/wordpress\/?page_id=672"},"modified":"2020-11-08T16:04:35","modified_gmt":"2020-11-08T16:04:35","slug":"mussar-yirat-hashem-fear-god-part2","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"http:\/\/jewishpath.org\/wordpress\/mussar\/mussar-yirat-hashem-fear-god-part2","title":{"rendered":"Mussar Yirat HaShem\/Fear God 3"},"content":{"rendered":"

Yirat HaShem<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Part 2<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

Yirat HaShem, means the fear of doing anything that will cause me to become separated from the Divine. Both the Divine within and\u00a0the Divine\u00a0without.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Devarim 6:13<\/span><\/p>\n

You shall fear the L-rd, your G-d, worship Him, and swear by His name.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u05d0\u05b6\u05ea \u05d9\u05b0\u05d4\u05b9\u05d5\u05b8\u05d4 \u05d0\u05b1\u05dc\u05b9\u05d4\u05b6\u05d9\u05da\u05b8 \u05ea\u05bc\u05b4\u05d9\u05e8\u05b8\u05d0 \u05d5\u05b0\u05d0\u05b9\u05ea\u05d5\u05b9 \u05ea\u05b7\u05e2\u05b2\u05d1\u05b9\u05d3 \u05d5\u05bc\u05d1\u05b4\u05e9\u05c1\u05b0\u05de\u05d5\u05b9 \u05ea\u05bc\u05b4\u05e9\u05bc\u05c1\u05b8\u05d1\u05b5\u05e2\u05b7<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Fear –<\/span> \u05d9\u05e8\u05b8\u05d0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

Yiro\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 ( Yud \u2013 Resh \u2013 Aleph )<\/span><\/p>\n

Fear; call to constant attention<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u05d5\u05b7\u05d9\u05bc\u05b9\u05d0\u05de\u05b6\u05e8 \u05d0\u05b7\u05dc \u05ea\u05bc\u05b4\u05e9\u05c1\u05b0\u05dc\u05b7\u05d7 \u05d9\u05b8\u05d3\u05b0\u05da\u05b8 \u05d0\u05b6\u05dc \u05d4\u05b7\u05e0\u05bc\u05b7\u05e2\u05b7\u05e8 \u05d5\u05b0\u05d0\u05b7\u05dc \u05ea\u05bc\u05b7\u05e2\u05b7\u05e9\u05c2 \u05dc\u05d5\u05b9 \u05de\u05b0\u05d0\u05d5\u05bc\u05de\u05b8\u05d4 \u05db\u05bc\u05b4\u05d9 \u05e2\u05b7\u05ea\u05bc\u05b8\u05d4 \u05d9\u05b8\u05d3\u05b7\u05e2\u05b0\u05ea\u05bc\u05b4\u05d9 \u05db\u05bc\u05b4\u05d9 \u05d9\u05b0\u05e8\u05b5\u05d0 \u05d0\u05b1\u05dc\u05b9\u05d4\u05b4\u05d9\u05dd \u05d0\u05b7\u05ea\u05bc\u05b8\u05d4 \u05d5\u05b0\u05dc\u05b9\u05d0 \u05d7\u05b8\u05e9\u05c2\u05b7\u05db\u05b0\u05ea\u05bc\u05b8 \u05d0\u05b6\u05ea \u05d1\u05bc\u05b4\u05e0\u05b0\u05da\u05b8 \u05d0\u05b6\u05ea \u05d9\u05b0\u05d7\u05b4\u05d9\u05d3\u05b0\u05da\u05b8 \u05de\u05b4\u05de\u05bc\u05b6\u05e0\u05bc\u05b4\u05d9:\u00a0 \u05d1\u05e8\u05d0\u05e9\u05d9\u05ea, \u05db\u05d1:\u05d9\u05d1<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

And HE said, Lay not your hand upon the lad, nor do anything to him; for now I know that you Yirat (fear) G-d, seeing that you did not withhold your son, your only son from me:\u00a0 Bereishit (Genesis) 22:12<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u05de\u05b4\u05d9 \u05d1\u05b8\u05db\u05b6\u05dd \u05d9\u05b0\u05e8\u05b5\u05d0<\/span> \u05d9\u05b0\u05d4\u05b9\u05d5\u05b8\u05d4 \u05e9\u05c1\u05b9\u05de\u05b5\u05e2\u05b7 \u05d1\u05bc\u05b0\u05e7\u05d5\u05b9\u05dc \u05e2\u05b7\u05d1\u05b0\u05d3\u05bc\u05d5\u05b9 \u05d0\u05b2\u05e9\u05c1\u05b6\u05e8 \u05d4\u05b8\u05dc\u05b7\u05da\u05b0 \u05d7\u05b2\u05e9\u05c1\u05b5\u05db\u05b4\u05d9\u05dd \u05d5\u05b0\u05d0\u05b5\u05d9\u05df \u05e0\u05b9\u05d2\u05b7\u05d4\u05bc \u05dc\u05d5\u05b9 \u05d9\u05b4\u05d1\u05b0\u05d8\u05b7\u05d7 \u05d1\u05bc\u05b0\u05e9\u05c1\u05b5\u05dd \u05d9\u05b0\u05d4\u05b9\u05d5\u05b8\u05d4 \u05d5\u05b0\u05d9\u05b4\u05e9\u05bc\u05c1\u05b8\u05e2\u05b5\u05df \u05d1\u05bc\u05b5\u05d0\u05dc\u05b9\u05d4\u05b8\u05d9\u05d5:\u00a0 \u05d9\u05e9\u05e2\u05d9\u05d4, \u05e0:\u05d9<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Who among you is G-d-Yira<\/span>\u00a0(fearing), who hearkens to the voice of His servant, who went in darkness and who has no light, let him trust in the NAME of the L-rd and Lean on his G-d.\u00a0<\/span>Isaiah, 50:1<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u05de\u05b4\u05d9 \u05d6\u05b6\u05d4 \u05d4\u05b8\u05d0\u05b4\u05d9\u05e9\u05c1 \u05d9\u05b0\u05e8\u05b5\u05d0<\/span> \u05d9\u05b0\u05d4\u05b9\u05d5\u05b8\u05d4 \u05d9\u05d5\u05b9\u05e8\u05b6\u05e0\u05bc\u05d5\u05bc \u05d1\u05bc\u05b0\u05d3\u05b6\u05e8\u05b6\u05da\u05b0 \u05d9\u05b4\u05d1\u05b0\u05d7\u05b8\u05e8:\u00a0 \u05ea\u05d4\u05d9\u05dc\u05d9\u05dd, \u05db\u05d4:\u05d9\u05d1<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Who is the man who Yira<\/span>\u00a0(fears) the L-rd? HIM shall HE teach in the way that he should choose:\u00a0 Psalms, 25:12<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

By this injunction we are commanded to believe in the Yirat (Fear) and Awe of G-d.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Hebrew word yiro<\/em> means both to fear<\/em> and to see<\/em>. \u00a0The essential choice of life is to open our eyes to available opportunities, and to fear the consequences of avoiding that reality.<\/span><\/p>\n

Fear is like any other emotion — there are both positive and negative aspects. Negative fear is debilitating. Positive fear is exhilarating.<\/span><\/p>\n

Making the right choice is a constant human struggle. We have an inclination to take the easy way out, and to ignore the coming consequences. Fear of consequences can be a great motivator in getting the job done quickly and efficiently.<\/span><\/p>\n

G- d stands over him<\/em>, [though] the entire earth is full of His Glory<\/em>, He looks at him, and inspects his reins and his heart, [to see] if he is serving Him as is fitting.<\/span><\/p>\n

Therefore, one must serve Him with Awe and Yirat (fear), as one stands before a king. One should think deeply about this [concept]. The Tree of Life Rabbi Shalom DovBer Schneersohn of Lubavitch Page 98<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Fear of G-d gives you full freedom.<\/span><\/p>\n

Nothing will stand in your way. \u00a0You just push right ahead. You’re free from all other fears.<\/span><\/p>\n

You have turned yourself into a pure conduit for the Will of G-d.<\/span><\/p>\n

Yirat (Fear) of G-d is the means to acquire all other Mitzvot, and is the key to everything we want to accomplish in this world. <\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

This is also the fifth Constant Commandment, it is the mandate to Yirat HaShem (Fear G-d), or to constantly stand in Awe of Him.\u00a0 Fear of G-d is the emotion that motivates the fulfillment of all the 365 prohibitive Commandments of Ha Torah.<\/span><\/p>\n

Fear of G-d does not refer to the fear of punishment.\u00a0 Although useful to fall back on as a means of keeping ourselves from transgressing against G-d\u2019s Commandments in times of spiritual immaturity, when unable to arouse any deeper motivation, fear of punishment is not really considered serving G-d.\u00a0 For if we Fulfill G-d\u2019s Commandments in order to avoid punishment, we are not fulfilling them for G-d\u2019s Sake, but rather for our own interest.<\/span><\/p>\n

True fear of G-d is founded on the fear of severing our bond of Love with Him, our Covenant of Betrothal to Him.\u00a0 Thus, Fear of G-d flows naturally out of the previous Commandment to Love HaShem G-d.\u00a0 If we truly Love G-d, we will fear doing anything that might separate us from Him. \u00a0This fear keeps our consciousness focused on G-d and prevents us from doing anything prohibited by Torah.<\/span><\/p>\n

At first this fear is not even conscious; it is merely a natural component of our Love for G-d.\u00a0 Eventually, however, after we have integrated the Love of G-d into our daily life, we may begin to sense the initial passion waning, and this is when our fear of losing our emotional Connection to G-d surfaces.\u00a0 Since we recognize that our Love of G-d is a product of our awareness of His Unity, this fear inspires us to seek newer insights in our understanding of G-d.\u00a0 Living in Divine Space Rabbi Yitzchak Ginsburgh Page 59-60<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Fear works together with Love, the two joining to become the two wings<\/em> of the soul that constantly elevate all of our good deeds, prayers, and studies.<\/span><\/p>\n

The day corresponding to the sefirah of gevurah ( might <\/em>), the consciousness of the left<\/em>, is the Second Day of Creation, on which G-d Severed the lower waters from the higher waters by means of the firmament.\u00a0 For the first time, created reality experienced existential distance from G-d, the Creator<\/strong>.\u00a0 The sages teach that to this very day the lower waters cry: we, too, want to be Close to G-d [ as are the higher waters].<\/em>\u00a0 Fearing Separation and longing to be Close to G-d, Creation cries out with all its might ( gevurah <\/em>) to its Creator. .\u00a0 Living in Divine Space Rabbi Yitzchak Ginsburgh Page 60-61<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Just as Love exists at three levels of Ascent to G-d\u2026<\/span><\/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

    So does its companion, Fear, exists at three levels:<\/span><\/p>\n

     <\/p>\n

      \n
    1. The fear that our bond of Love with G-d be severed corresponds to Loving G-d with all your heart.<\/em><\/span><\/li>\n
    2. The fear to approach G-d too Closely, lest one become annihilated in Divine Ecstasy, corresponds to Loving G-d with all your soul<\/em> \u2013 even if He takes your soul.<\/span><\/li>\n
    3. Shamefaced fear is the experience of standing in the Presence of the Infinite One, feeling that He is ALL and ALL is HE, and asking, Who am I?<\/em> This corresponds to the level of with all your might,<\/em> for here, as ALL is G-D, All is a manifestation of perfect, absolute Divine Goodness and Mercy.\u00a0 Here the sefirah of gevurah whose inner experience is fear, reaches it essence, as gevurah means might<\/em> ( which at once implies might and fear together with mighty love)<\/span>. Living in Divine Space Rabbi Yitzchak Ginsburgh Page 62<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

       <\/p>\n

      In Kabbalah, the left creates boundaries, that is, we identify the other and separate ourselves from the other in order to objectively sense the other\u2019s Independent Existence.\u00a0 A rectified left continues to nullify the ego and self-centeredness, for of all the emotions of the heart, fear most humbles the ego.\u00a0 Thereafter, it is the left itself that totally overcomes separateness, in its continuous experience of G-d\u2019s Omnipresence and Omnipotence.<\/span><\/p>\n

       <\/p>\n

      Remember the Talmud says: Everything is in the hands of heaven — except for Fear of G-d<\/em>.<\/span><\/p>\n

      Fear of G-d is completely up to us. Talmud Berechoth 33b\u00a0 Isaiah 33.6<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

       <\/p>\n

       <\/p>\n

      If you want it, you’ve got it.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

       <\/p>\n

      Fear of G-d is the only thing that, if you really want it, you’ve got it<\/em><\/strong>.<\/span><\/p>\n

      With everything else, G-d may Evaluate that perhaps your request is not good for you.<\/span><\/p>\n

      But Fear of G-d is the one thing the Almighty won’t withhold if you truly desire it, because it’s the one thing that always brings you into reality. It’s always good for you.<\/span><\/p>\n

      \"\"<\/p>\n

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

      Rebbetzin Revi Belk<\/span><\/p>\n

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

      Yirat HaShem Part 2 \u00a0 Yirat HaShem, means the fear of doing anything that will cause me to become separated from the Divine. Both the Divine within and\u00a0the Divine\u00a0without.\u00a0  …<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"parent":618,"menu_order":2,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[24],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-672","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry","category-mussar"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/jewishpath.org\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/672","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=672"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"http:\/\/jewishpath.org\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/672\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1173,"href":"http:\/\/jewishpath.org\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/672\/revisions\/1173"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/jewishpath.org\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/618"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/jewishpath.org\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=672"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/jewishpath.org\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=672"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/jewishpath.org\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=672"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}