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Teaching · Parshas Va'eschanan

Make Hashem's Name Beloved

Abaye taught that loving Hashem means living so that others come to love Him through you.

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The Torah commands us to love Hashem. Abaye explains, citing a teaching of the Tannaim, that this also means making the Name of Heaven beloved through you. How? A person learns Torah, serves talmidei chachamim, and deals pleasantly with people in business. Then people say of him: Fortunate is his father who taught him Torah, fortunate is his teacher. See how pleasant his ways are and how fine his deeds. About such a person the verse says, You are My servant, Israel, in whom I take glory. Abaye lived this himself. When he bought meat from two partners, he was careful to pay each of them separately, so that neither could ever suspect him of owing money. For Abaye, the way a Jew pays his bills is part of how he loves Hashem.

Source: Gemara, Yoma 86a (on Devarim 6:5 and Yeshayahu 49:3)

Practical lessonBe the reason someone smiles at Torah

This week, pay special attention to the people you deal with in business or in stores: the cashier, the delivery driver, a client or a contractor. Pay on time, say thank you by name, and be patient when something goes wrong. If you owe anyone money, even a small amount, settle it now. Let the people around you think: If that is what a Torah Jew is like, how beautiful.

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