I never tire from reflecting upon the greatest of all commandments in the Torah, which is to love the Lord our God with all of our heart, soul and strength, and our neighbour as ourselves. The Jewish Sages tell us that, ‘All the rest is just commentary.’
To treasure the presence of the Lord above all things and abide in His love will invariably bring transformation to us as individuals and to those around us.
There is a famous Chasidic story of some Jewish parents whose child stubbornly refused to attend Yeshiva or participate in the religious life of the community despite every known coercion or persuasion. Finally, in desperation, they brought him before a famous rebbe who was making a special visit at the time. The parents lamented their situation and sought his advice. The rebbe looked intently at the boy and in a severe tone of voice said,
‘Just leave him to me for a couple of hours, and when you return you will see the difference.’
No-one knew what he did but after his encounter with the rebbe, the boy was transformed and went on himself to become a famous rebbe.
Years later, when he was known as the greatest rebbe of his generation, his disciples would sit around him and ask,
‘You are such a great scholar. How did you get your deep insight into the Torah?’
He would simply reply,
‘When did I learn to study Torah? When did I truly learn to study the holy Torah? I learned everything when the great Rebbe, Aaron of Karlin, held me silently against his breast.’
To what extent do we long for more of Him in our lives? God promises that if we seek Him with all our heart, consistently, relentlessly, and with integrity, we will surely find Him.
But, there is also one place in the Torah, just one, where God says He will do something with all of His heart and all of His being. We find it in Jeremiah 32:37-41:
‘See, I am gathering them (the Jewish people) out of all the lands where I have driven them in My displeasure, and in My wrath, and in great rage. And I shall bring them back to this place, and shall let them dwell in safety. And they shall be My people, and I shall be their Elohim. And I shall give them one heart and one way, to fear Me all the days, for the good of them and of their children after them. And I
shall make an everlasting covenant with them, that I do not turn back from doing good to them. And I shall put My fear in their hearts so as not to turn aside from Me. And I shall rejoice over them to do good to them, and shall plant them in this land in truth, with all My heart and with all My being.’
Since this is indeed the case, (for God cannot lie) it would be a good thing and advisable for everyone to get on the right side of it rather than oppose Him, as sadly most of the world is doing.
