Love Comes First
The Order of Love and Mitzvah Observance
One of the differences between the first Parsha of the Shema and the second Parsha of the Shema, is the order of the Mitzvos.
In the first passage, the obligation to love Hashem with all of our heart, with all of our soul and with all of our might, precedes the observance of Mitzvos - Torah study, Tefillin and Mezuzah.
Whilst the second passage also records the obligation to love Hashem with all of our heart and soul, it does so only after the words “and it will be if you will listen to My commandments” - placing the Mitzvah observance before loving Hashem.
In the Gemara, Rabbi Shimon ben Yochai teaches that the second passage of Shema refers to a time when the Jewish people are “not doing the will of Hashem”.
Ideally, our Mitzvah observance should come after, and from, a deep love for Hashem. This powerful love leads to our desire and yearning to fulfill Hashem’s Mitzvos and bring Him Nachas Ruach.
The same is true with Hashem. In our Yomtov prayers, we say the words אתה בחרתנו... אהבת אותנו, that Hashem chose us from all other nations and loved us. Only afterwards we say וקדשתנו במצותיך, He sanctified us with His Mitzvos.
When we don’t have feelings of love, we should still start keeping the Mitzvos, and this can lead us to feelings love for Hashem. But this order is not the ideal and relative to the former approach, is described as “not doing the will of Hashem”.
It is not guaranteed that we will come to the feelings of love, and so unlike the first Parsha, the second passage comes with a warning, השמרו לכם, be warned lest you go astray.
In the first passage, the obligation to love Hashem with all of our heart, with all of our soul and with all of our might, precedes the observance of Mitzvos - Torah study, Tefillin and Mezuzah.
Whilst the second passage also records the obligation to love Hashem with all of our heart and soul, it does so only after the words “and it will be if you will listen to My commandments” - placing the Mitzvah observance before loving Hashem.
In the Gemara, Rabbi Shimon ben Yochai teaches that the second passage of Shema refers to a time when the Jewish people are “not doing the will of Hashem”.
Ideally, our Mitzvah observance should come after, and from, a deep love for Hashem. This powerful love leads to our desire and yearning to fulfill Hashem’s Mitzvos and bring Him Nachas Ruach.
The same is true with Hashem. In our Yomtov prayers, we say the words אתה בחרתנו... אהבת אותנו, that Hashem chose us from all other nations and loved us. Only afterwards we say וקדשתנו במצותיך, He sanctified us with His Mitzvos.
When we don’t have feelings of love, we should still start keeping the Mitzvos, and this can lead us to feelings love for Hashem. But this order is not the ideal and relative to the former approach, is described as “not doing the will of Hashem”.
It is not guaranteed that we will come to the feelings of love, and so unlike the first Parsha, the second passage comes with a warning, השמרו לכם, be warned lest you go astray.