Understanding the Mitzvah to Love Hashem

The mitzvah to love Hashem is the fourth of the six constant mitzvot—commandments that are always binding, regardless of time or circumstance. The Torah says, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your possessions” (Devarim 6:5). This commandment goes beyond mere affection or reverence; it demands total, all-encompassing devotion.

To better understand the depth of this requirement, we turn to Rav Hirsch’s interpretation of the verse:

To the Jewish truth, it is not true that God wishes to be worshiped only with the spirit and intent. The full requirement is: “with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your might.” Our worship in spirit and intent, our love, must be expressed through the dedication of our entire being—both physical and spiritual—as well as our resources. A love that cannot even sacrifice the smallest physical desire is vain, mere foam and dream. Yes, the right kind of love requires the sacrifice of the most cherished desires… We are always the same, with the same goal, task, and singular desire: to “love” our God through all the diversity of our lives—not to fulfill our own wishes but to fulfill His… The person dedicates themselves entirely to the one, unique God. This dedication to the One makes the person themselves harmoniously unified.

Rav Hirsch makes a powerful argument about the nature of true worship and devotion to Hashem. He explains that worship is not just about inner thoughts, feelings, or intentions. It is something greater than that, something that engages the entire self—mind, body, emotions, and actions. Internal devotion alone is insufficient if it is not translated into action. Rather, it must be reflected in every area of life. It’s not enough to simply feel reverence for Hashem; true worship involves acting on that reverence in tangible ways.

Our devotion to Hashem should not be confined to one area of life but should extend to everything we do. Worship is not something compartmentalized, reserved for specific times or places; it is meant to be a comprehensive, all-encompassing way of life. Our entire being—our body, mind, emotions, actions, and resources—should be involved in worship. When we dedicate ourselves to Hashem completely, we are unified in purpose and direction. Thus, just as Hashem is One, our dedication to Him should be singular and whole, unifying all aspects of ourselves and making us one. In His oneness, we find our own Oneness and discover a sense of inner harmony and wholeness.

Rav Hirsch also emphasizes an important aspect of loving Hashem: it requires sacrifice. This can sometimes mean making difficult or uncomfortable choices, like giving up something valuable to us. At times, our desires—whether for physical pleasures, money, or other personal goals—may conflict with our devotion to Hashem since they pull us in other directions. But true love for Hashem means we must set aside these competing desires, allowing our love for Him to take precedence over everything else. Of course we can have our interests and pursuits, but they should lead us toward a greater love of Hashem rather than pulling us away from it.

The key concept Rav Hirsch focuses on is the word “all” (כל), which emphasizes the totality of worship. Our devotion to Hashem should not be confined to one area of life but should extend to everything we do. Worship is not something compartmentalized, reserved for specific times or places; it is meant to be a comprehensive, all-encompassing way of life. Our entire being—our body, mind, emotions, actions, and resources—should be involved in worship. When we dedicate ourselves to Hashem completely, we are unified in purpose and direction. Thus, just as Hashem is One, our dedication to Him should be singular and whole, unifying all aspects of ourselves and making us one. In His oneness, we find our own Oneness and discover a sense of inner harmony and wholeness. The dedication to the “One” brings us to a place of balance, where all their efforts and actions are directed toward fulfilling Hashem’s will, rather than being driven by conflicting, personal desires.

Returning to the verse, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your possessions” (Devarim 6:5), let’s explore another perspective on this commandment. The Malbim explains:

Since God is One, it follows that whatever may seem to you as “bad” is in fact only good and kindness. From the One who is good, nothing but good can come. The evil that appears to you is only understood by God as something ultimately for your good. Therefore, you should love Him even if He takes your soul or your possessions, for in this, He is acting like a doctor who cuts off a decayed limb so that the corruption does not spread throughout the body. 

There is a cyclical relationship here: when we love Hashem, we begin to recognize that everything He does is ultimately for our benefit. On the other hand, knowing that everything He does is for our good deepens our love for Him. Even in moments of suffering, we can trust that there is a loving purpose behind Hashem’s actions—much like a doctor who performs surgery not to cause harm, but to heal. While we may not understand all the details of the “surgery,” we can trust that, just as a doctor knows what they’re doing, God knows what He is doing.

Thus, we can work on deepening our love for Hashem by striving to see His ultimate purpose behind each hardship. When we find the order in what initially seems like chaos, our trust in His love for us grows. Instead of rejecting or resenting the difficulties we face, we can embrace them with trust and love for God, knowing that even in our struggles, He is working for our ultimate good. Loving God means loving Him not only in moments of joy but also in times of pain, trusting that both are part of His divine plan to bring us closer to Him and help us grow into the people He intends for us to be.

In conclusion, the mitzvah to love Hashem, calls us to a comprehensive, all-encompassing devotion that goes beyond emotions and intentions to involve every aspect of our lives—our actions, desires, and resources. True love for God requires not only reverence but also sacrifice, a willingness to prioritize His will over our own. By embracing both the joys and challenges of life as part of His loving plan, we deepen our love for Hashem and grow in trust, recognizing that even the difficulties we face serve a higher, healing purpose. This love unifies us with God, helping us to align our lives with His will and leading us to greater spiritual fulfillment and inner harmony.