Maghen Abraham - Thoughts From Mayer Sasson

Basic and essential

"You shall fear G-d…" (10,20)

Hagaon Rabbi Elchanan Wasserman, the Rosh Yeshiva of Branowich used to say: "It is a mistake to think that Fear of G-d is one attribute amongst many that a person should have and that someone without it is a person missing one quality only.

Actually, a person without Fear of G-d is not worthy of being called a Man because if he doesn't recognize the Master of the World he is compared to an animal.

Thus, Shlomo Hamelech said in Kohelet: "G-d you shall fear and His mitzvahs…. For this is the entire person." Therefore, since Fear of G-d is so basic and essential in our lives we ask for it twice in the Blessing of the Month: a) "Life that has Fear of G-d and Fear of Sin", and b)"Life in which we have Love of Torah and Fear of G-d".

Shabbat Shalom!!