Choosing His Nation with Love
What is the answer to this question? Of course, we mean it on a deep level. We’re Yidden, after all! We have a neshamah that’s rooted in the Kisei HaKavod! But we have nisyonos. Sometimes we’re victorious, and sometimes we aren’t. Sometimes after he fails, a person feels that he didn’t even have a choice in the matter...
For this reason, Chazal instituted that we recite the berachah of Ahavah Rabbah before שמע. קריאת This means: you truly do not have the ability to accept Malchus Shamayim upon yourself without first fortifying yourself with Hashem’s love. You truly do not have the power and the ability to act without that—and what potency does such a resolution have without the ability to cover it? However, when a person recites the berachah, with all the incredible expressions of love and fondness that we recite therein ויתירה... גדולה רבה... חמלה (אהבה—and he seals the blessings with באהבה ישראל בעמו הבוחר, He Who chooses His nation with love...this gives the person the strength and the fortitude to accept upon himself the yoke of Heaven.
Purim: Full Hearts
When the Heart Is Full...
A person becomes consumed with the feeling of this berachah. He doesn’t only know about Hashem’s boundless love because he said the berachah yesterday. It is something that he reiterates to himself over and over—not only to remember it, but to feel it. We must feel it deeply! And when we feel Hashem’s love, our acceptance is a true acceptance, and the resolution will accompany us and fortify us.
With this, the great tzaddikim explained the placement of רבה אהבה before שמע קריאת—for without the love, the acceptance of all the mitzvos would be futile and meaningless. When a person meditates upon this great love, his soul receives the kochos to push away all outside influences that threaten to overtake him with forbidden pleasures. For when his heart is filled with love, he doesn’t need any of it.
