Digital Maggid
The Berdtichever brings us a tasty tidbit to moisten our palates before Shabbos.
This is a commentary on D’varim 14:23, and most specifically the last part of the verse:
“…to fear Hashem, your G-d, all the days.”
Now the Hebrew word translated here as “to fear” is l’yir’ah. It implies fear in the sense of reverence and awe, not terror. So the Berditchever says:
Der mensh velkher dint dem Ribono Shel Oylam ois moyre, hot bloiz zich alein zinnen; er hot moyre far a greserer makht. Der ober vos dint G-t mechamas ahavah, fargest aingantsen in zich.
The person who serves the Master of the World out of fear has only himself in mind; he fears a greater power. But the one who serves G-d out of love forgets himself entirely.
Here, the master is using the word “moyre” which in Yiddish connotes apprehension, dread. [Hebrew: mora, may have different connotations but the teacher was speaking in Yiddish.] This seems to imply that the word l’yir’at, is most appropriately expressed through love. If one serves only out of a sense of wanting to avoid trouble, then one has only oneself in mind. But if one serves out of genuine love, then no thought of self enters into the picture.
