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Love Grows From Looking Closely

In Sefer HaMitzvos the Rambam explains how a Jew comes to love Hashem: by studying His Torah and His world until the love arises on its own.

A teaching ofRav Moshe ben Maimon (Rambam)רבי משה בן מימוןProfile ›

Describing the commandment to love Hashem, the Rambam explains that love is the fruit of understanding. We study His commandments, His words and His deeds, and consider them deeply until we grasp something of Him and feel the delight of that grasp. That delight is the love the Torah asks for. He cites the Sifrei, which says that by taking these words to heart, you come to know the One who spoke and the world came to be. And just as a person who loves someone speaks warmly of him and urges others to love him too, one who truly loves Hashem calls others to know Him.

Source: Sefer HaMitzvos, Positive Commandments 3

Practical lessonLook until you are moved

Today, pick one thing in front of you, whether a passage you are learning, a mitzvah you are about to do, or something in the world around you that shows wisdom and kindness. Give it two quiet minutes of real attention and ask yourself what it shows about Hashem. Do not force a feeling. The Rambam teaches that love comes from understanding, so let the understanding come first. Then share what you noticed with someone close, because love of Hashem grows when it is spoken.

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