Maghen Abraham - Thoughts From Mayer Sasson

Loving G-d

"And you shall love G-d... with the whole of your heart and with whole of your soul and with the whole of your fortune." (6,5)

There is a famous question: Love is a feeling that is aroused in a person's heart. How can one force a person to love his G-d?

Hagaon Rabbi Akiva Eigar explained according to the verse in Mishlei" As in water face answers to face.. the heart of a man to a man" where Rashi explains – To the extent that a person knows that his friend loves him, so shall he look at him with a (friendly) face.

Since we know that G-d loves us greatly, we can therefore be commanded to love Him, because of "as in water face answers to face".

Therefore before we say the Shema we precede it with the blessing of "Who chooses His nation Israel in love" in the morning prayers and with the blessing "Who loves His nation Israel" in the evening prayers – because by our recognition of His love towards us our hearts will be aroused to love Him, "as in water face answers to face."

SHABBAT SHALOM!!