וְא ָ֣הַבְת ָּ֔ א ֵ֖ת ה' אֱלֹ קיךָ בְכ ל-לְב ָֽבְךָָ֥ וּבְכ ל-נַפְשְךֵָ֖ וּבְכ ל-מְאֹד ָֽךָ: (ו 'ה')
"And you shall love Hashem your G-d with your whole heart and with your whole soul and with all your possessions." (6:5)
The Ohr haChaim haKadosh z"l speaks here at length in explanation of the verse, but we will just mention one point:
In the Torah, everything has significance, and everything is coming to teach us something--meaning some kind of positive message that will motivate us further in our service of Hashem, which is the whole point of the Torah, to connect us with Hashem in a happy and healthy manner.
Here too, the verse tells us to love Hashem your G-d. Says the Ohr haChaim: You can also read it the other way, meaning that Hashem is saying that he will "place" His Name by one who loves him, like it says by the Forefathers: "G-d of Avraham, G-d of Yitzchak, G-d of Yaakov." You too have personal access in having the most special, private, and positive relationship with Hashem. Let's take advantage, and watch the miracles roll in! (Like it says by Yosef haTzadik, that since he was so "busy" with Hashem in a positive manner, so too Hashem got "busy" with him in giving him tremendous, above-nature success, and He made him king of the world for eighty years, a world-record, as is brought down in a medrish.)
Story:
Pinya* (name changed) decided to make the most of his bein hazmanim. To that end he decided: "No more "Mr. Nice-Guy" when it comes to Torah—only the parts of Torah that speak to my neshama (with a rebbi)! Ein adam lomeid ele ma shelibo chafeitz!" Needless to say, he never enjoyed learning so much!
Question:
Almost two-thousand years in galus (exile). What are we waiting for?
Answer:
Did you know that a recent study shows that over 77% of not-yet-religious Israelis have become closer to Hashem and His Torah since "October Seventh"? A recent count places the number at over two million people. And let's not forget the tremendous thirst for Hashem and His Torah that is growing by the second all across the world. Kiruv agencies say that they cannot keep up with demand. Every day in galus means another day of more and more of our own "joining the program!" (Aside from the fact that even the tiniest mitzva done after two-thousand years of galus has the most precious value.) A person that lives with emuna and bitachon recognizes that galus is lichatchila ("ideal")! Of course we daven and yearn for the Final Redemption (which is slowly but surely unfolding all around us from all directions, as the truth of Hashem's greatness becomes more and more obvious), which will be the most grandiose time (as the Vilna Gaon speaks about at the beginning of Sifra diTzniusa). But in the meantime: "Thank you Hashem for galus! It is such a great opportunity for growth!"
One last thing: If you want to speed-up the process, just know that there are millions upon millions of not-yet-religious peoples that are waiting to become your most loyal talmidim! (Or at least daven for them!)
