BS’D
Today, 5th of Shevat, is the yahrtzeit of Rabbi Yehudah Leib Alter ztk’l (1847-1905), leader of the Ger chassidic dynasty. Rabbi Alter is better known as the “Sfas Emes,” the title of his book of insights into the Bible, Jewish thought and holidays. He built up Ger as the largest chassidic group in Poland prior to the Holocaust, numbering 250,000. The son of Sfas Emes escaped the Nazis, and came to Israel, where he oversaw the rebuilding of the Ger community, which remains vibrant till today (Aish.com) May his zechut protect us, Amen!
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By observing the wondrous creation and admiring the infinite wisdom in every aspect of this world, one can reach a level of love, praise and appreciation towards Hashem. At the same time, this leads a person to feel a sense of smallness as Dovid HaMelech ztk’l writes in tehillim (144:3), “Hashem, what is man that You should know him, the son of man, that You should consider him?” Within the vast greatness of Hashem’s being, He still ‘knows’ us on a very intimate level through careful observation and closeness. The idea that I am so important to Hashem and merit His personal attention certainly causes an influx of love.
The Rambam ztk’l teaches us that we cannot love an object if we are unaware of it. Meaning, that one’s love for someone is in direct proportion to how much knowledge he has of him. In order to increase our love of Hashem, much of our time should be invested in learning the purpose of our soul’s existence and our mission in the scheme of creation. This too creates immense love for Hashem when we realize what an important task we hold.
Fear of Hashem comes as a result of learning practical wisdom. After we beseech Hashem’s help and are enveloped in His love and care, we feel immense gratitude as we realize how much we are dependent on Him. A wise man values his yirah since he recognizes that trusting in Hashem is vital to his existence. Without a trembling awareness that life has consequences and benefits beyond this world, we cannot embrace the entire picture of Hashem’s awesomeness.
Ahavah is created through the study and recognition of all of the good that Hashem does for us. Yet yirah stems from a place of understanding that there is an accounting of every move, down to the minute detail, and all will be taken into consideration in the realm of the World to Come.
We need both. Hashem is our loving Father who wants only for our best but is nonetheless just and exact in His intervention and guidance.
Today’s daily dose of emuna is dedicated to the refuah shleimah of Yaakov Akiva ben Feiga. He is a young father of three boys in the hospital. Please daven for Yaakov Akiva ben Feiga that he merit a complete recovery amongst all those in Klal Yisrael who are sick and suffering b’karov, b’rachamim, Amen!
