I was studying the laws of the Kohanim when they ascend the Duchan to bless the congregation, when I saw a quote from the Zohar that struck me.
Before proclaiming the fifteen words of blessings to the congregation, the Kohanim recite a blessing that ends with, “You commanded us to bless the congregation with love.” About this the Zohar states, “A kohain can only bless the congregation if he loves everyone in the congregation; if not, he may not ascend the Duchan.” Pretty powerful!
Additionally, when the Shulchan Aruch, the code of Jewish law, delineates the qualifications a chazzan who leads the high holiday prayers should have, it states that if there is someone in the congregation that the chazzan dislikes or is at odds with and the chazzan does not wish to include him in his prayers, then even the ones that he loves are not included in his prayers. Therefore, he should not serve as the leader.
We see that getting along with others is a serious matter.
This got me thinking that perhaps this applies to our relationship with G-d as well.
Based on the concept of the Zohar, that a blessing can be given and accepted only if there is love between the two parties, we should examine how G-d feels towards us.
The Torah states: “It was because of G-d’s love for you…that He brought you out of the land of Egypt.” (Deuteronomy 7:8) Obviously, G-d loves us!
In the blessing we recite before we begin the Shema prayer in the morning we conclude with, “Who chooses His people Israel with love.” In the evening we end with, ‘Who loves His nation Israel.’
These blessings are a prelude to the love that we express for G-d twice in the Shema. We say, V’ahavta and, L’ahavah.
We can therefore say that, “G-d loves us, and gives blessings to those who love him!” When we appreciate all that G-d does for us and smile at our relationship with G-d by adhering to the Mitzvos, beliefs and respecting the Torah, then our love is shown to G-d. Since this love is mutual, His blessings will abound!
Ahavah – love – is continually repeated in our Shabbat and Holiday prayers – how G-d lovingly and uniquely gave us these Mitzvos to us so that we can deeply connect with Him and display our love.
Our love towards G-d has powers that seem magical.
The Talmud relates that when one repents and returns to G-d out of love, which means he yearns to mend the relationship with the Almighty which was ruined by sin, and rededicates himself to G-d with love, all the person’s past sins – transform into Merits!
Thus, if someone was elsewhere when they should have been praying, or they did not conform to the sanctity of the Shabbos or holidays, when they decide to make a turn around and take their responsibilities seriously – out of love to G-d – magically, all that they were lax in, now turns into merits!
This is the great incentive and power that comes from serving G-d out of love.
Part of the great love that G-d has toward us is that He provides us with Rosh Hashana – a Day of Judgment – so that we have an opportunity to take stock and seriously contemplate and examine where we are and how we can better show our love to G-d. He is waiting for us, for He signed His Torah to us – with love!
May G-d grant us all a Shana Tova – a year filled with goodness, kindness, success and peace, within our homes and throughout the world!
