Penetrating the Heart
In this week’s parashah, we read the words, אנוכי אשר האלה הדברים והיו לבבך על היום מצוך, the words that you are being commanded today should be upon your heart.
In the previous pasuk אלוקיך) ה' את (ואהבת, the Ohr HaChaim HaKadosh explains that in order to be a Yid, at the most basic level, one’s heart must be on fire for the Ribbono shel Olam. A Yid cannot be dry and apathetic in his approach to his avodas Hashem. For this reason, we must remind ourselves twice every day to love Hashem with all our hearts. Every person, no matter his personality or temperament, must fulfill the mitzvah of loving Hashem with all his heart.
However, the Ohr HaChaim HaKadosh points out that there’s a dilemma in this—for how can we command someone to love? Love simply cannot be forced upon a person!
This is what the pasuk האלה הדברים והיו is coming to address: “This is the eitzah from Hashem when He commanded us to constantly place these words upon our hearts; that is, to learn Torah, which will awaken his heart to the Ribbono shel Olam. This will give birth to a great desire and a longing for spirituality, and his heart will race with love for Hashem and everything that He has commanded—and this desire and longing will greatly outweigh a person’s desire for power and wealth.”
Mind Over Heart
Let us elaborate on this great eitzah presented by the Ohr HaChaim HaKadosh. The Torah tells a person: “You can attain ahavas Hashem by constantly thinking about HaKadosh Baruch Hu. This works according to the principle הלב על שליט מח, the mind rules over the heart. If a person wishes to feel a certain way, he must fill his mind with thoughts that will influence the heart to feel that way.
People utilize this strategy when they wish to arouse people’s hearts to a certain cause. How can you cause people to feel empathy and compassion? We don’t even possess the keys to our own hearts—let alone the hearts of others. But we can put thoughts and images into their minds...we can speak and sing about the plight... we can show them sad photographs of those in need—all in an effort to penetrate their minds, which will in turn arouse their hearts (which will result in opening their wallets).
Thoughts Open the Heart
This principle holds true in interpersonal relationships as well. When we put to mind the goodness of that person, we will automatically develop feelings towards him. If a stranger walks into shul, we will feel nothing toward him. But if a person explains to you that this person is a major askan who devotes his life to others, you will immediately begin to develop feelings towards this person.
And if this principle is true in our lives, then every Yid must know how to utilize this eitzah for our eternal life—the life that truly matters. If, for example, a Yid wishes to feel a taste in Shabbos and Yom Tov, but he simply isn’t feeling it—he must learn the sefarim hakedoshim that speak of the greatness of these days and the chiyus they can bring us. He will see that the thoughts will go into his mind, penetrate his heart, and enflame him with the holiness and exaltedness of the moment.
Constant Thought Forges Connection
There’s an added aspect to this principle, and that is when a person thinks about something or someone persistently, it creates a tremendous kesher and connection with that entity. Not only will this person develop strong feelings towards the other, but he will also develop a
