410. Self-Love and Love of the Creator

May 1980

There is self-love and there is love of the Creator, and there is a medium, which is love of others. Through love of others we come to the love of the Creator. This is the meaning of what Rabbi Akiva said, “Love your neighbor as yourself is a great rule in the Torah.”

As Old Hillel said to the gentile who told him, “Teach me the whole Torah on one leg.” He said to him, “That which you hate, do not do to your friend. And the rest, go study.” This is so because through love of others we come to love the Creator, and then the whole Torah and all the wisdom are in his heart.

It is written, “The Creator said to Israel, ‘Be sure, the whole wisdom and the whole Torah are easy. Anyone who fears Me and performs the words of Torah, all the wisdom and all of the Torah are in his heart’” (“Introduction to The Study of the Ten Sefirot,” where he references Midrash Rabbah, portion VeZot HaBracha). Concerning fear, it is explained in the Sulam [Ladder commentary on The Zohar], that it is fear that he might not be able to bestow upon the Creator, since it is the conduct of love that he wants to bestow upon the Creator.

Hence, one who has love of the Creator wants to bestow, and this is called Dvekut [adhesion], as in “And to cleave unto Him.” By this the Creator passes onto him Torah and wisdom. It follows that he taught him on one leg, meaning that through love of others he will achieve the degree of love of the Creator, and then he will be rewarded with Torah and wisdom.

When one is rewarded with the Torah of the Creator, meaning Torah from the mouth of the Creator, one sees that it is complete, that there is no lack in it.

“Sinai,” since Sinaa [hatred] descended to the nations of the world. This is the sign of the Torah.

“In Your hand shall I entrust my spirit.”

Isru Hag [after the holiday/festival], from the word “dial” [in Hebrew]. Avotim [thick] means Aviut [thickness], in the words of Baal HaSulam. “Until the corners” is Malchut. “Altar” is Malchut, meaning Malchut of Malchut. That is, a person should pray for the complete redemption, which is Malchut of Malchut.

A prayer of many means for the many. “Thanks,” thanks to a person being able to pray for the many.

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