We read in Parashat Va’et’hanan the first of the three paragraphs that comprise the Shema text which we recite each morning and evening. This first paragraph contains the command, “ve’ahavta et Hashem Elokecha be’chol levavecha u’v’chol nafshecha u’v’chol me’odecha”- “You shall love Hashem your G-d with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your means” (6:5).
Rashi explains the precise meaning of this command, to love Hashem with all our “heart,” “soul,” and “means.” Loving Hashem “with all our heart” requires us to devote ourselves to Him with both “sides” of our heart – with our Yetzer Tov (good inclination) and our Yetzer Ha’ra (evil inclination). We serve Hashem with our Yetzer Tov, of course, by acting upon our desire for goodness, and performing the Mitzvot. We serve Hashem with our Yetzer Ha’ra by subduing our negative tendencies, overpowering our sinful inclinations in faithful obedience to G-d.
The command to love Hashem “with all your soul,” Rashi explains, means that, if necessary, we are to be prepared to surrender our lives for Hashem. Under certain circumstances, we are required to sacrifice our lives rather than abandon our faith, as, unfortunately, many Jews have been forced to do throughout the ages. Finally, Rashi explains the command to love Hashem “be’chol me’odecha” to mean that we must be willing to part with our money for Hashem’s sake. We must avoid violating His laws even at great financial expense.
The Ba’al Ha’turim (Rabbenu Yaakob Ben Asher, Germany-Spain, 1269-1340) comments that these three commands correspond to the three avot (patriarchs). The command to love Hashem with all our heart, he explains, is associated with Abraham Avinu, about whom it is said, “u’masata et lebabo ne’eman lefanecha” – Hashem “found His heart faithful” (Nehemya 9:8). Abraham was the paragon of unconditional and unwavering faith in Hashem, a man whose heart was pure and unquestioning in its devotion to G-d. He sets the example we must follow in fulfilling the command to serve Hashem “be’chol levavecha.”
Yizhak Avinu, of course, was prepared to surrender his life to Hashem at the Akeda, when G-d commanded Abraham to sacrifice his son upon an altar, rescinding the command only at the final moment, just as Abraham lifted the knife. Thus, Yitzhak is the exemplar of “u’v’chol nafshecha,” the willingness to sacrifice one’s life for Hashem.
Finally, Yaakov Avinu pledged to G-d as he fled from his brother that he would donate one-tenth of all his earnings (Bereshit 28:22). In fact, Yaakov ended up giving to his brother all the money he earned during his years outside Eretz Yisrael, in exchange for Me’arat Ha’machpela, the burial site of the patriarchs. Yaakov exemplifies the willingness to part with one’s money for the sake of Hashem, and so he is associated with the command, “u’v’chol me’odecha.”
The Ba’al Ha’turim adds that the word “Ve’ahavta” (“You shall love”), with which this verse begins, has the same letters as the word “Ha’avot” – “the patriarchs.”
Very often, religious life can appear very difficult, and even intimidating. The numerous restrictions and obligations can make us feel discouraged, and many people feel they simply lack the inner strength, the resolve, the discipline or the skills to observe the Torah. The requirement to subdue our Yetser Ha’ra, and to make the considerable sacrifices entailed in serving Hashem, can be daunting. The Torah therefore alludes in this verse to the example set for us by our Avot, to remind us of our origins and roots. We have outstanding “spiritual genes.”
As the descendants of Abraham, Yitzchak and Yaakov, we have inherited their faith and their strength. They set for us the precedent of overcoming difficult challenges in the service of Hashem, of steadfast devotion to Him even in times of hardship. We must not feel discouraged or intimidated by the Torah’s obligations, but should instead feel confident in the “genes” we have received, in the power that we have as the heirs of our righteous forebears, which enables us to fully commit ourselves to the divine will.
