The Greatest Commandment

(The following is adapted from a commentary by "Project Genesis Lifeline")

This is the "Shema Yisrael", also called the Greatest Commandment -- "Hear, oh Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is One." [Deut. 6:4] And what is the next verse? "And you will love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your might."

But how can the Torah demand that a person love?

There are many ways to develop love, but two are exceptionally powerful. The first is to appreciate everything that has been given to you. Gratitude towards a person, such as a parent or spouse, makes you love them more, and so too with God.

The other goes still deeper -- and, at its root, offers one reason why there are Commandments. When you do something for someone, that in and of itself instills love for that person in your own heart. Parents, especially, see every day that love in the heart is enhanced by love in action, by investing energy and effort into a child.

Whether between man and man or man and God, each and every day we are offered countless opportunities to choose to follow God's Will. And when we follow His Will with a deep understanding of His love for us, and motivated by our love for Him, then that causes us to love Him more.

When we study God's Torah, we observe His Commandment to do so, and when we seek to live out Torah in our daily lives, we perceive His incredible wisdom, and by doing so with love, we increase our love of God and His Torah at the same time.

May we all grow in our understanding of Torah, and our love for Our Creator and each other!