Love on Command
One of the most well known verses in Judaism is the Shema prayer. “Hear O' Israel, the Lord is our G-d, the Lord is One”. The next verse of the prayer is ‘Veahavta’ a commandment from G-d instructing us to love G-d and to teach it to our children.
How can one be commanded to love? It isn't possible to love on demand?
Reb Yisroel Baal Shem Tov, the first Chassidic master, gives a beautiful explanation to this quandary.
The word ‘Shema’ means ‘to hear’. It doesn't only mean hearing in its literal sense, rather a deeper level of taking in. There's a Yiddish word that encapsulates the meaning; derher, [Der-her] Verb: to listen.
When we meditate on what it means to have a connection to “our G-d”. What it means to be his messenger in expressing His Oneness, then we will have a great love of Him, and in turn, teach that to our children.
That is the remarkable power of the Shema. When we give ourselves a chance to contemplate on its meaning, we open ourselves up to a rich and meaningful relationship with our soul, G-d. Allowing Him to be a part of our everyday life.
Think about it. Hear it. Take it in.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Baruch Hecht
