The Baal Shem Tov on Love / Fear of G-d
December 12, 2024
Love and Fear of G-d
- Avodah – Fear with Joy
The Baal Shem Tov quoted the Ramban’s response to someone’s question asking how they should serve G-d? He replied, “Both with reverence, as well as with joy.”
3 Noach – Baal Shem Tov on the Torah
- Avodah – Fear with Joy
Serve G-d with awe and joy simultaneously – these are two friends that should never be separated.
Fear without joy is misery.
One should always be happy.
{We should always live and serve with both joy and reverence for G-d.}
5 Noach – Baal Shem Tov on the Torah
- Avodah – Love and Fear
In order to serve G-d, we need both fear (which creates respect) and love (which creates a longing for G-d).
18 Bishalach– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah
- Avodah – What To Gain
The Baal Shem Tov said, “See to it that from every Avodah (service of G-d, such as Torah study and prayer) you should gain fear of G-d and bashfulness (toward G-d!)
Note 2 Noach – Baal Shem Tov on the Torah
- Fear – Hug From G-d
Every fear that exists in every universe – for fear is a staple everywhere – is only there to cause a person to attach themselves to the inner fear, namely reverence of G-d.
When one appreciates that “G-d loves me so much to cause so many universes and Beings containing the attribute of fear everywhere, just so I can have a healthy fear of G-d, this then eliminates the fear of others” (and one feels G-d’s loving embrace.)
In fact, it is very easy to transition from the “fear” (reverence) of a Tzaddik, to fear of G-d.
18 Eikev– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah
- Fear – The Test
The ultimate goal is fear of G-d – though one needs both love and fear.
Here is an example or test to see if your fear of G-d is complete:
A Minister has an ego and in his own space (home, office, etc.) loves eating his favorite food (say chocolate.)
However, when he is standing before the king, he is in such a state of humility that even if he were to see his favorite food – the desire for it would not exist.
In a similar sense, Tzaddikim are always consciously aware that they are standing before G-d to the extent that the desires of the body don’t even enter them.
{In other words, our fear of G-d should be so consciously real that we don’t have space for instinctive desires.}
28 Eikev – Baal Shem Tov on the Torah
- Fear of G-d – Benefit
We need to have both love and fear of G-d – if we just have love, a person would become accustomed to it.
Additionally, the person would always be “with G-d” (think that they’re “buddies”) but fear causes healthy reverence.
24 Eikev– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah
- (R) Fear G-d / Sages
When one has fear of G-d, they have fear of the Sages, and when one has fear of the Sages they then connect this person to all the positive fears (eliminating the negative.)
{We must have reverence for the Rebbe and Tzaddikim.}
30 Eikev – Baal Shem Tov on the Torah
- Fear of G-d – First
The entire purpose of man’s Avodah (service of G-d) is to inculcate fear of G-d, and G-d will in turn give one love of G-d.
Note 25 Eikev – Baal Shem Tov on the Torah
- Fear of G-d – To Love
Fear of Divine punishment in essence can be transposed into G-d’s love, for He wishes for you to repent (Teshuvah) and come close to Him, and when you realize that all is G-d’s love for you – your fear is eliminated.
365 Kesser Shem Tov
- G-d – Fear
The Sages teach that “The reason G-d made thunder is to remove man’s arrogance.”
The Baal Shem Tov explains: Truthfully, any man with a brain should understand that at each and every moment the entire universe is continuously receiving vitality / its energy (existence) from G-d, and as such, “If all of the universe including my own soul and body are currently dependent on G-d; G-d shall I revere!”
On the flip side, a person who doesn’t have this intelligence needs outside motivation.
{This is a profound teaching, for the Rebbe Rasha”b teaches that we all shall become humble… Best to cause it through intelligent appreciation of G-d vs. circumstance/s.}
26 Eikev – Baal Shem Tov on the Torah
- Love
Always perceive that the love and awe you have for G-d is nothing compared to what you should have… and in this way, you will always yearn / ascend.
{Don’t be satisfied with your spiritual advancement for this leads to complacency.}
Note 9 Ki Tovo – Baal Shem Tov on The Torah
- Love / Fear – of G-d
“Place Shoftim Vishoitrim (guards and watchmen) in all your gateways.”
This means, “Place love and fear of G-d in all your thoughts,” as thoughts are referred to as gateways.
1 Shoftim– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah
- Love For G-d
The greatest passion for G-d – which Tzaddikim long for – is the passion of the person who first encounters G-d!
Note 12 Noach – Baal Shem Tov on the Torah
- Love / Fear – of G-d
In this world, wherever there is joy, there is no trepidation / fear and vice-versa.
However when we are dealing with serving G-d – both love and fear of G-d can concurrently exist!
349 Kesser Shem Tov
- Yiras Hashem
All the Hebrew letters are “face and back” (Alef then Beis – so the Beis has its “back” to the Alef etc.) The reason for this is that as they receive from the level above them, they have an embarrassment to that level. So must a Jew feel to the “level above them.”
16 Eikev– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah
- Yiras Hashem – Fear of G-d
A person’s constant fear of G-d should match the level they would feel if G-d-forbid something very frightening is occurring, (feeling palpable fear…) and conversely if something frightening is occurring it should only be the level of a person’s constant fear of G-d (more intellectual…)
4 Vayishlach– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah
- Yiras Hashem – Fear of G-d
The nature of the world is that there is fear on all levels – for example the mouse is afraid of the cat, which is afraid of the dog, which is afraid of the wolf etc. and all these fears go up until the highest fear which is the fear of G-d.
The reason there are all these outer (worldly) fears is for all is meant to bring one to fear of G-d, for this is the source of fear.
In fact, when one contemplates how the source of all these fears ultimately stems from the fear of G-d, then the outer fears dissipate.
Note 17 Eikev– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah
- Yiras Hashem – Fear of G-d
Fear of punishment actually represents G-d’s love, for it is there to remind us that G-d eagerly awaits for us to come close to Him in Teshuvah – and if one elevates to feel G-d’s love, and to accept what will come to you with joy, then this will eliminate your fear.
Note 17 Eikev– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah
- Yiras Hashem – Fear of G-d
It is a very great level to always bear in mind that G-d is next to you – encompassing you from every angle.
Be so connected to this consciousness that you need not remind yourself that you are with G-d.
See G-d with your mind’s eye, and realize that you are currently in Divine space (as it says, the world is in Divine space for He preceded the world and it exists within Him.)
169 Kesser Shem Tov
- Yiras Hashem – Fear of G-d
Always see with your mind’s eye, G-d – as if you are gazing at another person, and imagine that G-d likewise is gazing at you.
May this constantly be clearly viewed by you.
232 Kesser Shem Tov
- Yiras Hashem – Fear of Shame
Breishis is “Yira Boishes” (fear of shame). Just like when one is before a great king, he thinks not, “does he love me?” Rather one thinks of the king’s greatness in order to feel humbled, similarly Breishis is “Yira Boishes.”
We should induce the great reverence and awesome knowledge of G-d’s infinite greatness, so we should always have a sense of humble shame / humility before His glorious presence. (This fear is not being afraid, and shame doesn’t mean to feel embarrassed; rather just as if someone you respect is looking at you, the awareness of their gaze would cause you to not want do something shameful…)
{This in fact is the highest level of Yiras Hashem – to constantly through the consciousness that G-d is gazing at me “to see if my thoughts and intentions are good / holy” I maintain a healthy sense of reverential behavior.}
10 Breishis – Baal Shem Tov on the Torah
- Yiras Hashem – Humbly
The ultimate goal of the fear of G-d is that it should be internal – our inside should be Yisroel (fear of G-d), and our outer side should be Yaakov – a simple / straightforward person.
5 Balak– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah
- Yiras Hashem – Reverence
There is a query: As G-d is called “Nora” awe-inspiring – why is there a command to have awe? (For it should be natural… like what one feels when standing before a great king.) The answer is that there is an outer fear – for example a rat fears a cat, the cat fears a dog, the dog fears a wolf etc. Now a person needs to take all of his outer fears (even fear of the outer “part” of G-d – such as punishment, fear, etc.) and bring it to the inner fear (sense of awe).
17 Eikev– Baal Shem Tov on The Torah
- Yiras Shamayim – Self-Control
Who is a Yiras Shamayim? (A notable accolade, literally one who fears G-d…) One who has self-discipline.
But one who merely studies Torah (and this is their sole occupation…) do not get involved with them!
84 + Note 206 Kesser Shem Tov (The Rebbes)