Naso

It begins and ends with love.

Take any love,

That fills your heart.

For your partner,

Your child,

Even a favorite object.

Let that love begin to radiate,

Filling your heart,

Your mind,

In prayer and gratitude.

And, so comes God.

One love becomes another.

A steady stream from one to the Next.

Parshat Naso, June 8, 1940

We have already spoken about the teaching from the holy book, Tanna D’Bai Eliyahu, that says the Torah is for the sake of Israel. What this really means is that by observing the commandments alone the Jew does not fulfill his obligation. His duty is done only if the observance transforms him into a Jew, as it is written, “And you will be for Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.” (Exodus 19:6) The real meaning of the verse is that you, your essential self, will be entirely given over to God. This is why the Jewish person must serve God by putting all his attributes, his nature, and his disposition into the service of holiness.

My grandfather, the righteous, holy Rabbi of Lublin, of blessed memory, cites the following parable in his book Zot Zkharon, in the name of the Great and Holy Maggid of Mezeritch, of blessed memory. “When a person, before praying, seeks to awaken within himself love for God, he should remind himself of he love that he already has -- for example, for his children or his possessions. When he feels his love is aroused, he should remind himself of God, of His greatness and of the goodness of all that God has done for him, and then his love for God, blessed be He, will also be awakened.” This means that even mundane love, such as that which a person has for his material possessions, can be elevated to become love of God.