At first glance, all these commandments are understandable . . . except the one about loving G-d.
How is it possible to command us to love anything? For instance, if a person doesn't like peanut butter or classical music, then all the commands in the world won't make it click for him. He can pretend to love . . . like a movie actor or a con-artist does . . . but not really love.
Especially when the command is to love an intangible, infinite G-d!
The Weekly Sedra – Va’etchanan
This week’s Torah portion contains twelve commandments, among them: 1) Not to desire the possessions of others; 2) To unify G-d and know He is One; 3) To love G-d; 4) To learn and teach Torah; 5) To say the “ Shema Yisroel” prayer twice daily; 6) To put tefillin on the arm and 7) on the head; and 8) To affix mezuzot on all of one’s doors.
At first glance, all these commandments are understandable . . . except the one about loving G-d.
How is it possible to command us to love anything? For instance, if a person doesn’t like peanut butter or classical music, then all the commands in the world won’t make it click for him. He can pretend to love . . . like a movie actor or a con-artist does . . . but not really love.
Especially when the command is to love an intangible, infinite G-d!
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