Deuteronomy-Chap-6-Vv-5
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Throughout
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the JPS-1917, being my preferred version!
Colour coded
details of our beloved TaNaKh:
1. Torah =
History & Law, 2. Nevi’im = The Prophets. 3. *Ketuvim = all other Writings.
*The Ketuvim - Includes, Poetical
books - Psalms, Proverbs, Job, the Megillot,
or Scrolls - Song of Solomon, Ruth, Lamentations of
Jeremiah, Ecclesiastes, and Esther, prophecy of Daniel, and history
of Ezra, Nehemiah, and Chronicles I & II.
Please Note: Some alterations
or (additions) have been made relating to ‘Names’ and ‘Attributes’ of אֱלֹהִים - Elohim (God), having been corrected like it once was pre
the “Masoretic Text”.
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Remember the following truth from our beloved Torah!
“Ye shall NOT ADD TO THE WORD which
I command you, NEITHER SHALL YE DIMINISH FROM
IT, that ye may keep the commandments of אֱלֹהֵיכֶם יְהוָה - the LORD your Eloleichem, which I command you”. Davarim - Deuteronomy
4:2. (JPS-1917).
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With Rabbi, Dr. Reuven Ben Avraham-Goossens, PhD.
Please Note: All verses shown on this page are from the JPS-1917 version of the Torah.
This may be a relatively short study, but it is certainly a powerful
one!
Do you know what is one of אֱלֹהִים - Elohim’s
(God’s) greatest commandments? Well, Devarim - Deuteronomy 6:5 clearly states
the following;
וְאָהַבְתָּ,
אֵת יְהוָה
אֱלֹהֶיךָ,
בְּכָל-לְבָבְךָ
וּבְכָל-נַפְשְׁךָ,
וּבְכָל-מְאֹדֶךָ
“And thou shalt love יְהוָה
אֱלֹהֶיךָ
-
the LORD thy Eloheicha with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all
thy might”!
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This
verse, the וְאָהַבְתָּ - ‘Ve’ahavta’, is the foundational
call to a relationship with אֱלֹהִים יְהוָה - the LORD Elohim. In our Hebraic thought,
these three “parts” are not separate compartments but overlapping circles that
encompass every facet of existence.
The Three Dimensions of Love:
The Hebrew words used
here offer a rich, practical blueprint for devotion:
1. With all your Heart בְּכָל-לְבָבְךָ - B’kol Le’vav’cha):
In the Torah mindset, the heart is the seat of our
‘intellect’, ‘will’, and ‘decision-making’.
Practicality: It means ‘loving אֱלֹהִים - Elohim’ with your
“two inclinations” the good inclination - יֵצֶר
הַטּוֹב
– ‘yetzer hatov’, and the
bad inclanation יֵצֶר
הָרָע
- ‘yetzer hara’,
subjugating even your base impulses to a higher purpose.
2. With
all your Soul בְּכָל-נַפְשְׁךָ - ‘B’kol Naf’sheka’:
It implies a commitment of your very life. Our tradition
famously points to all who recited these words even as he was being martyred,
fulfilling the command “even if He takes your soul”.
3. With
all your Might מְאֹדֶךָ בְכָל - ‘B’kol Me’odeka:
The word me’od is usually an adverb
meaning “very” or “exceedingly”. This is the command to love אֱלֹהִים - Elohim with your “muchness” (all your heart).
Practicality: The above can also be interpreted as
your “material wealth” and “resources” (mammon). It means using your ‘funds’, ‘property’,
and ‘influence’ to provide further Divine goodness in the world.
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The Living the Scripture:
The verses that immediately follows
the above scripture is of course, Deuteronomy 6:6-9 which explains how to “do”
something with this love!
Internalize: Keep these words “upon your heart”
through constant study of the blessed Word!
Educate: Teach them diligently to your children,
making faith a natural part of your life and daily conversation, whether
sitting at home or walking on the way.
Visible Reminders: ‘Bind them as signs’
(Tefillin) and ‘write them on your doorposts’ (Mezuzot) so they are the first thing you see when you enter
or leave your world.
And remember …
“Be strong and of good courage, fear not, nor be affrighted
at them; for יְהוָה
אֱלֹהֶיךָ
- the LORD thy Eloheicha,
He it is that doth go with thee; He will not fail thee, nor forsake thee”. Devarim - Deuteronomy
32:6.
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Please Note: “hebraicstudies” links are located down the page!
This site was originally created, for those who desired to return to our blessed and wonderful faith. Thus be wise and work on your faith and pray at least two or three times a day (if possible) and always seek our beloved אֱלֹהִים - Elohim’s guidance, for His love is always with us, especially when we seek Him, blessed be He! However this site has become very much a teaching site with hundreds of studies!
Remember what אֱלֹהִים - Elohim, blessed be He, said the following through a number of
our prophets...
“The More Torah,
the More Life”,
For Elohim is the One who
gave us our ... “Life!”
May the שָׁלוֹם - Shalom =
Peace of צְבָאוֹת- יְהוָה= the LORD
of hosts, be with you, and please always uphold our blessed שַׁבָּת - Shabbat,
as well as the מוֹעֲדִים - Mo’a’dim - Feasts, and continue saying your
daily תְּפִלָּה - Tefeelah’s - Prayers and
regular בְּרָכָה - Be’ra’chah’s - blessings before
food and drinks, etc!
שָׁלוֹם
עֲלֵיכֶם - Shalom Aleichem - Peace be with you!
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