Ahavah Rabah 18: Closer and Closer to Hashem
להודות לך וליחדך...
…to offer praiseful thanks to You, and proclaim Your Oneness…
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You (Hashem) brought us close to Your great Name (“Shimcha ha’gadol,” as explained last week, means Hashem’s creations and conducting the world) in order that we recognize Your greatness and great chesed, which will then inspire us to thank You.
וליחדך–u’l’yachedcha, on a simple level, means to make Hashem One – that is, to recognize that nothing exists outside of Hashem. Anything that exists in the world is from Hashem.
On a deeper level, Rav Chaim Friedlander zt”l explains that it means that Hashem alone guides and runs the world – all for the purpose of bestowing good upon His creations.
In this world, we see things as “good” and “bad.” For certain types of good news, we recite the brachah of HaTov v’HaMeitiv, whereas for certain types of bad news, we recite the brachah of Dayan HaEmes. However, in Olam HaBa, we will recite only the brachah of HaTov v’HaMeitiv.
In this world, we are expected to believe that all is for the good, even though there are many times when it is not possible for us to see how the event can possibly be for the good. However, in the next world, we will see how all is truly for the good.
When we say l’hodos, we are recognizing the chesed that Hashem performs for us, and we thank Him. When we say u’l’yachedcha, we are saying that we believe that all of Hashem’s conduct in the world is unified with one purpose: to bestow goodness upon us. We believe this, in this world, even when we do not perceive how a particular event can be good.
Integrating Mitzvos into Our Daily Lives
The mitzvos of Emunah and Yichud Hashem are amongst the Six Constant Mitzvos. In Aleinu, we say “וידעת היום והשבות אל לבבך–V’yadata ha’yom va’hasheivosa el l’vavecha.” The distance between the mind and the heart is vast. Most of us have learned, read, heard, and tried to internalize Chazal’s statement, “Kol d’avid Rachmana, l’tav avid (B’rachos 60b).” However, when we are challenged in our lives with a situation that is bitter or difficult for us, it is still a major challenge and effort for most of us to accept it as good, and even more so to “sing” to Hashem, as David HaMelech did: “Chesed u’mishpat ashirah” (T’hilim 101:1).
We must therefore dwell on it repeatedly until it is firmly etched into our hearts, even though we already “know” it intellectually. It is so easy for us to listen to that voice saying, “Here he goes again, writing or speaking about the same thing. I know that already. Teach me something new. What is the chidush here?” That voice is none other than that of the yeitzer ha’ra.
Until we reach the level where we are immediately thanking Hashem for the bitter and difficult situations in life, because we not only understand but actually feel that our “coach” knows what we need for our training and growth, we must grab every opportunity to review and internalize this y’sod (truism). One Source, One Force. My Father loves me and knows exactly what is best for me. He is with me at all times, guiding me every moment of my life, and desires my success even more than I do. This current situation came from Him for my benefit. How can I grow from this challenge?
Needless to say, this is a lifetime effort, and most of us will never come close to the levels of David HaMelech. What we can do is daven to Hashem and exert ourselves in our efforts. B’ezras Hashem, He will help us to succeed to come closer and closer to Him through all the roads He leads us through, some paved beautifully and some with major potholes. Our mission and purpose in life is to come closer to Hashem – d’veikus. He alone knows when sweet events are best for our growth and when challenging events are needed. Both, however, come from love, even if the sweetness is concealed for now.
May we be zocheh soon to experience the days of Mashiach, when we will all see precisely how all is truly for our good.