Parshat Shelach
June 7, 2002

SHEMA YISRAEL IV

The next phrase in the Shema charges a Jew to love G-d “Bechol Levavecha – with all of your heart”. The distinguishing factor in this phrase, which is pointed out in Tractate Brachot chap. 9, is the double bet in Levavecha. In proper grammatical Hebrew the way to say your heart is Bechol Leebcha [in the singular]. The Talmud explains: why then does the verse read Bechol Levavecha [in the plural] to direct us to love Hashem with our Yetzer Hatov – intrinsically good inclination(s) as well as our Yetzer Hara- negative inclination(s).

Every person is endowed with urges and inclinations that are positive and less positive. The Torah/ Shema is instructing us to utilize all inclinations on both sides of the spectrum in our service to Hashem. The question is – how are we supposed to do that? To use positive qualities to visit the sick, welcome guests and love our neighbors is understandable, but how can we utilize anger, greed and jealousy in our service to G-d?

The simple solution to using negative characteristics for G-d is to surrender them and/or conquer them in order to better develop the better you within you. The process of eliminating the less positive aspects of our personalities and character in effect demonstrates love to Hashem with even our negative inclination(s) – Yetzer Hara.

A deeper way to understand this concept is not to attempt to do away with our less shining qualities but rather to channel them productively and positively. If one experiences jealousy, let him/her be jealous of genuinely good accomplishments and try to strive to similar heights. If someone covets honor, let him/ her donate funds to a Torah institution and have his/her family name plastered all over the building. All characteristics can be utilized for good if we learn to frame it correctly.

The message of “Bechol Levavecha” is to not do half a job, put in half the effort, and live half a life. There used to be a phrase in certain streams of Jewish life, “Be a Jew in your home and a man in the street”. This confusing motto developed a generation of Jews that weren’t Jews at home or in the street, and barely in the synagogue. To experience the true treasures of Torah and Yiddishkeit one must immerse oneself completely into the Mikvah of Torah - Bechol Levavecha – with all of your heart.

May we all merit to improve our self-awareness and aspire to truth and consistency in our pursuit towards personal and national greatness.

Shabbat Shalom.

Rabbi Ephraim Epstein

*Helpful Hint* Jot down some of the interpretations you learn into the margins of your personal siddur. This will enable you to access and utilize these and other Tefilla tips more easily.