Chapter Previewהַקְדָּמָה
In this final chapter of Hilchos Teshuvah, the Rambam brings us to the very pinnacle of our avodah: serving Hashem out of pure love, ahavas Hashem. We learn the profound difference between serving out of fear of punishment or desire for reward—which is the level of children and beginners—and serving Hashem simply because He is the Master and His Torah is truth.
The Rambam paints a breathtaking picture of what true love of Hashem looks like, comparing it to a deep, constant lovesickness where a person's mind is never diverted from his beloved. We will see how this ultimate level is reached, how we must guide simple people and children toward it gradually, and how our love for Hashem is entirely dependent on our knowledge and understanding of Him.
All introductions, summaries, and contextual notes are the editor's commentary and are not part of the original text.אַלע הַקְדָּמוֹת, סִכּוּמִים, און הערות זענען דעם רעדאַקטאָר'ס באַמערקונגען און זענען נישט קיין טייל פונעם אָריגינעלן טעקסט.
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עֲבוֹדַת הַשֵּׁם מֵאַהֲבָה וְלֹא מִיִּרְאָהHalacha 1 · Serving Hashem Out of Love Rather Than Fear of Punishment or Desire for Reward
אַלDo notיֹאמַרsayאָדָםa personהֲרֵינִיbehold I amעוֹשֶׂהperformingמִצְוֹתthe mitzvos ofהַתּוֹרָהthe Torahוְעוֹסֵקand occupying myselfבְּחָכְמָתָהּin its wisdomכְּדֵיin orderשֶׁאֲקַבֵּלthat I will receiveכָּלallהַבְּרָכוֹתthe blessingsהַכְּתוּבוֹתthat are writtenבָּהּin itאוֹorכְּדֵיin orderשֶׁאֶזְכֶּהthat I will meritלְחַיֵּיthe life ofהָעוֹלָםthe worldהַבָּא,to comeוְאֶפְרשׁand I will separateמִןfromהָעֲבֵרוֹתthe transgressionsשֶׁהִזְהִירָהthat warnedתּוֹרָהthe Torahמֵהֶןagainst themכְּדֵיin orderשֶׁאֶנָּצֵלthat I will be savedמִןfromהַקְּלָלוֹתthe cursesהַכְּתוּבוֹתthat are writtenבַּתּוֹרָהin the Torahאוֹorכְּדֵיin orderשֶׁלֹּאthat notאֶכָּרֵתI will be cut offמֵחַיֵּיfrom the life ofהָעוֹלָםthe worldהַבָּא.to comeאֵיןIt is notרָאוּיfittingלַעֲבֹדto serveאֶת—ה'Hashemעַלinהַדֶּרֶךְthe wayהַזֶּה,thisשֶׁהָעוֹבֵדfor one who servesעַלinדֶּרֶךְthe wayזֶהthisהוּאheעוֹבֵדservesמִיִּרְאָהfrom fearוְאֵינָהּand it is notמַעֲלַתthe level ofהַנְּבִיאִיםthe prophetsוְלֹאand notמַעֲלַתthe level ofהַחֲכָמִים.the wiseוְאֵיןand do notעוֹבְדִיםserveה'Hashemעַלinדֶּרֶךְthe wayזֶהthisאֶלָּאexceptעַמֵּיcommonהָאָרֶץpeopleוְהַנָּשִׁיםand the womenוְהַקְּטַנִּיםand the minorsשֶׁמְּחַנְּכִיןwhom we trainאוֹתָןthemלַעֲבֹדto serveמִיִּרְאָהfrom fearעַדuntilשֶׁתִּרְבֶּהthat will increaseדַּעְתָּןtheir knowledgeוְיַעַבְדוּand they will serveמֵאַהֲבָה:from love
The Rambam explains that serving Hashem solely to receive reward or avoid punishment is a lower level of service, characteristic of minors and the unlearned, whereas the ultimate goal is to serve Him out of pure love.
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הָעֲבוֹדָה מֵאַהֲבָה וּמַעֲלַת אַבְרָהָם אָבִינוּHalacha 2 · Serving Hashem Out of Pure Love and the Level of Avraham Our Father
הָעוֹבֵדOne who servesמֵאַהֲבָהout of loveעוֹסֵקoccupies himselfבַּתּוֹרָהin the Torahוּבַמִּצְוֹתand in the mitzvosוְהוֹלֵךְand walksבִּנְתִיבוֹתin the paths ofהַחָכְמָהwisdomלֹאnotמִפְּנֵיbecause ofדָּבָרany thingבָּעוֹלָםin the worldוְלֹאand notמִפְּנֵיbecause ofיִרְאַתfear ofהָרָעָהthe evilוְלֹאand notכְּדֵיin orderלִירַשׁto inheritהַטּוֹבָהthe goodאֶלָּאratherעוֹשֶׂהhe doesהָאֱמֶתthe truthמִפְּנֵיbecauseשֶׁהוּאthat it isאֱמֶתtruthוְסוֹףand ultimatelyהַטּוֹבָהthe goodלָבוֹאwill comeבִּגְלָלָהּ.because of itוּמַעֲלָהAnd levelזוֹthisהִיאitמַעֲלָהis a levelגְּדוֹלָהgreatמְאֹדveryוְאֵיןand notכָּלeveryחָכָםwise manזוֹכֶהmeritsלָהּ.itוְהִיאand itמַעֲלַתis the level ofאַבְרָהָםAvrahamאָבִינוּour fatherשֶׁקְּרָאוֹwhom called himהַקָּדוֹשׁthe Holy OneבָּרוּךְBlessedהוּאis HeאוֹהֲבוֹHis loverלְפִיbecauseשֶׁלֹּאthat notעָבַדhe servedאֶלָּאexceptמֵאַהֲבָה.out of loveוְהִיאAnd itהַמַּעֲלָהis the levelשֶׁצִּוָּנוּthat commanded usבָּהּin itהַקָּדוֹשׁthe Holy OneבָּרוּךְBlessedהוּאis Heעַלbyיְדֵיthe hand ofמשֶׁהMosheשֶׁנֶּאֱמַרas it is saidדבריםDevarimו6ה5"וְאָהַבְתָּAnd you shall loveאֵת—ה'Hashemאֱלֹהֶיךָ".your GodוּבִזְמַןAnd at the timeשֶׁיֶּאֱהֹבthat lovesאָדָםa personאֶת—ה'Hashemאַהֲבָהwith a loveהָרְאוּיָהthat is properמִיָּדimmediatelyיַעֲשֶׂהhe will performכָּלall ofהַמִּצְוֹתthe mitzvosמֵאַהֲבָה:out of love
This halacha defines the supreme level of serving Hashem purely out of love for the truth, rather than out of fear of punishment or desire for reward.
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גֶּדֶר אַהֲבַת הַשֵּׁם הָרְאוּיָה וּמְשַׁל שִׁיר הַשִּׁירִיםHalacha 3 · The Proper Measure of Loving Hashem and the Parable of Shir HaShirim
וְכֵיצַדAnd howהִיאisהָאַהֲבָהthe loveהָרְאוּיָה.that is properהוּאit isשֶׁיֹּאהַבthat he should loveאֶת—ה'Hashemאַהֲבָהa loveגְּדוֹלָהgreatיְתֵרָהexceedingעַזָּהstrongמְאֹדveryעַדuntilשֶׁתְּהֵאthat will beנַפְשׁוֹhis soulקְשׁוּרָהbound upבְּאַהֲבַתin the love ofה'Hashemוְנִמְצָאand he is foundשׁוֹגֶהobsessedבָּהּwith itתָּמִידalwaysכְּאִלּוּas ifחוֹלֶהsick withחֳלִיthe sickness ofהָאַהֲבָהloveשֶׁאֵיןthat notדַּעְתּוֹhis mindפְּנוּיָהis freeמֵאַהֲבַתfrom the love ofאוֹתָהּthatאִשָּׁהwomanוְהוּאand heשׁוֹגֶהis obsessedבָּהּwith herתָּמִידalwaysבֵּיןwhetherבְּשִׁבְתּוֹin his sittingבֵּיןwhetherבְּקוּמוֹin his risingבֵּיןwhetherבְּשָׁעָהat the timeשֶׁהוּאthat heאוֹכֵלeatsוְשׁוֹתֶה.and drinksיֶתֶרmoreמִזֶּהthan thisתִּהְיֶהshall beאַהֲבַתthe love ofה'Hashemבְּלֵבin the heart ofאוֹהֲבָיוthose who love Himשׁוֹגִיםobsessedבָּהּwith itתָּמִידalwaysכְּמוֹjust asשֶׁצִּוָּנוּHe commanded usבְּכָלwith allלְבָבְךָyour heartוּבְכָלand with allנַפְשְׁךָ.your soulוְהוּאand thisשֶׁשְּׁלֹמֹהis what Shlomoאָמַרsaidדֶּרֶךְby way ofמָשָׁלparableשירShirהשיריםHaShirimבtwoהfive"כִּיforחוֹלַתsick withאַהֲבָהloveאָנִי".am Iוְכָלand all ofשִׁירShirהַשִּׁירִיםHaShirimמָשָׁלa parableהוּאit isלְעִנְיָןfor the matter ofזֶה:this
The Rambam defines the ultimate love of Hashem as a constant, consuming passion, comparing it to a lovesick person whose thoughts never wander from their beloved.
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עֲבוֹדַת הַשֵּׁם מֵאַהֲבָה וְשֶׁלֹּא עַל מְנָת לְקַבֵּל פְּרָסHalacha 4 · Serving Hashem Out of Love and Not for the Sake of Receiving Reward
אָמְרוּsaidחֲכָמִיםthe Sagesהָרִאשׁוֹנִיםthe firstשֶׁמָּאlestתֹּאמַרyou will sayהֲרֵינִיbehold I amלָמֵדlearningתּוֹרָהTorahבִּשְׁבִילfor the sakeשֶׁאֶהְיֶהthat I will beעָשִׁירrichבִּשְׁבִילfor the sakeשֶׁאֶקְרָאthat I will be calledרַבִּיRabbiבִּשְׁבִילfor the sakeשֶׁאֲקַבֵּלthat I will receiveשָׂכָרrewardבָּעוֹלָםin the worldהַבָּא.the comingתַּלְמוּדthe teachingלוֹמַרsaysדבריםDeuteronomyיא11יג13"לְאַהֲבָהto loveאֶת—ה'".Hashemכָּלallמַהthatשֶּׁאַתֶּםwhich youעוֹשִׂיםdoלֹאnotתַּעֲשׂוּshall you doאֶלָּאexceptמֵאַהֲבָה.from loveוְעוֹדand furtherאָמְרוּsaidחֲכָמִיםthe Sagesבְּמִצְוֹתָיוin His mitzvosחָפֵץhe desiresמְאֹדgreatlyוְלֹאand notבִּשְׂכַרin the reward ofמִצְוֹתָיו.His mitzvosוְכֵןand soהָיוּwereגְּדוֹלֵיthe great ofהַחֲכָמִיםthe Sagesמְצַוִּיםcommandingלִנְבוֹנֵיto the understanding ofתַּלְמִידֵיהֶםtheir studentsוּמַשְׂכִּילֵיהֶםand their wise onesבְּיִחוּדin privateאַלdo notתִּהְיוּbeכַּעֲבָדִיםlike servantsהַמְשַׁמְּשִׁיםwho serveאֶת—הָרַבthe Masterוְכוּ'etc.אֶלָּאratherמִפְּנֵיbecauseשֶׁהוּאthat He isהָרַבthe Masterרָאוּיit is fittingלְשַׁמְּשׁוֹto serve Himכְּלוֹמַרmeaning to sayעִבְדוּserveמֵאַהֲבָה:from love
The Sages taught that Torah study and mitzvah observance must be motivated by love for Hashem rather than a desire for wealth, honor, or reward in the World to Come.
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לִמּוּד הַתּוֹרָה לִשְׁמָהּ וְשֶׁלֹּא לִשְׁמָהּHalacha 5 · Learning Torah for Its Own Sake and Not for Its Own Sake
כָּלAnyoneהָעוֹסֵקwho occupies himselfבַּתּוֹרָהwith the Torahכְּדֵיin orderלְקַבֵּלto receiveשָׂכָרrewardאוֹorכְּדֵיin orderשֶׁלֹּאthat notתַּגִּיעַwill comeעָלָיוupon himפֻּרְעָנוּתretributionהֲרֵיbeholdזֶהthisעוֹסֵקone is occupying himselfשֶׁלֹּאnotלִשְׁמָהּ.for its sakeוְכָלand anyoneהָעוֹסֵקwho occupies himselfבָּהּwith itלֹאnotלְיִרְאָהout of fearוְלֹאand notלְקַבֵּלto receiveשָׂכָרrewardאֶלָּאbutמִפְּנֵיbecause ofאַהֲבַתthe love ofאֲדוֹןthe Master ofכָּלallהָאָרֶץthe earthשֶׁצִּוָּהWho commandedבָּהּitהֲרֵיbeholdזֶהthisעוֹסֵקone is occupying himselfבָּהּwith itלִשְׁמָהּ.for its sakeוְאָמְרוּAnd they saidחֲכָמִיםthe Sagesלְעוֹלָםalwaysיַעֲסֹקshould occupy himselfאָדָםa personבַּתּוֹרָהwith the Torahוַאֲפִלּוּand evenשֶׁלֹּאnotלִשְׁמָהּfor its sakeשֶׁמִּתּוֹךְfor from withinשֶׁלֹּאnotלִשְׁמָהּfor its sakeבָּאhe comesלִשְׁמָהּ.to its sakeלְפִיכָךְThereforeכְּשֶׁמְּלַמְּדִיןwhen we teachאֶת—הַקְּטַנִּיםthe childrenוְאֶתand —הַנָּשִׁיםthe womenוּכְלַלand the generality ofעַמֵּיthe common peopleהָאָרֶץwe do notאֵיןteachמְלַמְּדִיןthemאוֹתָןexceptאֶלָּאto serveלַעֲבֹדout of fearמִיִּרְאָהand in orderוּכְדֵיto receiveלְקַבֵּלrewardשָׂכָר,untilעַדwill increaseשֶׁתִּרְבֶּהtheir knowledgeדַּעְתָּןand they will grow wiseוְיִתְחַכְּמוּwith wisdomחָכְמָהextraיְתֵרָהwe revealמְגַלִּיםto themלָהֶםsecretרָזthisזֶהlittleמְעַטby littleמְעַטand we accustomוּמַרְגִּילִיןthemאוֹתָןto matterלְעִנְיָןthisזֶהgentlyבְּנַחַתuntilעַדthey grasp itשֶׁיַּשִּׂיגוּהוּand they know itוְיֵדְעוּהוּand they serve Himוְיַעַבְדוּהוּout of loveמֵאַהֲבָה:—
The Rambam explains the transition from serving God out of fear and for reward to serving Him purely out of love.
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אַהֲבַת הַשֵּׁם הַתְּלוּיָה בְּדַעַת וְהַשָּׂגָהHalacha 6 · The Love of Hashem Depends on Knowledge and Comprehension
דָּבָרA matterיָדוּעַknownוּבָרוּרand clearשֶׁאֵיןthat notאַהֲבַתthe love ofהַקָּדוֹשׁthe Holy OneבָּרוּךְBlessedהוּאis Heנִקְשֶׁרֶתis boundבְּלִבּוֹin the heartשֶׁלofאָדָםa personעַדuntilשֶׁיִּשְׁגֶּהhe is obsessedבָּהּwith itתָּמִידconstantlyכָּרָאוּיas is fittingוְיַעֲזֹבand abandonsכָּלallמַהthatשֶּׁבָּעוֹלָםis in the worldחוּץexceptמִמֶּנָּה.from itכְּמוֹjust asשֶׁצִּוָּהHe commandedוְאָמַרand saidבְּכָלwith allלְבָבְךָyour heartוּבְכָלand with allנַפְשְׁךָ.your soulאֵינוֹone does notאוֹהֵבloveהַקָּדוֹשׁthe Holy OneבָּרוּךְBlessedהוּאis Heאֶלָּאexceptבְּדַעַתwith the knowledgeשֶׁיְּדָעֵהוּ.that he knows Himוְעַלand according toפִּי·הַדֵּעָהthe knowledgeתִּהְיֶהwill beהָאַהֲבָהthe loveאִםifמְעַטlittleמְעַטlittleוְאִםand ifהַרְבֵּהmuchהַרְבֵּה.muchלְפִיכָךְthereforeצָרִיךְneedsהָאָדָםthe personלְיַחֵדto dedicateעַצְמוֹhimselfלְהָבִיןto understandוּלְהַשְׂכִּילand to comprehendבְּחָכְמוֹתin wisdomsוּתְבוּנוֹתand understandingsהַמּוֹדִיעִיםthat make knownלוֹto himאֶת—קוֹנוֹhis Creatorכְּפִיaccording toכֹּחַthe capacityשֶׁיֵּשׁthat there isבָּאָדָםin a personלְהָבִיןto understandוּלְהַשִּׂיגand to graspכְּמוֹjust asשֶׁבֵּאַרְנוּwe explainedבְּהִלְכוֹתin the Laws ofיְסוֹדֵיthe Foundations ofהַתּוֹרָה:the Torah
The Rambam explains that true love of Hashem requires constant devotion and is directly proportional to one's intellectual comprehension of the Creator.
Chapter Summaryסִכּוּם
The Rambam begins by explaining that serving Hashem for the sake of receiving blessings, meriting Olam Haba, or escaping punishment is considered serving out of fear, which is only appropriate as a training stage for women, children, and common people. The true path, exemplified by Avraham Avinu, is serving out of love—doing what is true simply because it is true. This love must be so intense that one's soul is constantly bound up in it, as described metaphorically in Shir HaShirim. While the Sages emphasize that one should always engage in Torah and mitzvos even shelo lishmah (not for His sake) because it eventually leads to lishmah, the ultimate goal is to serve solely out of love for the Creator. Finally, the Rambam rules that this love can only take root in the heart in proportion to one's knowledge of Hashem, meaning a person must dedicate himself to understanding and contemplating the wisdom of his Creator.
לְמַעֲשֶׂהWhat To Take Home
My dear talmid, it is so easy to fall into the habit of keeping mitzvos like a business transaction. We do the ratzon of Hashem because we want the brachos, or because we are afraid of what will happen if we do not. But the Rambam is opening our eyes to a breathtaking truth: the ultimate goal of our avodah is to serve Hashem out of pure, burning love, simply because He is our Creator and His truth is the ultimate truth. This is the level of Avraham Avinu, a love so deep that it is compared to being lovesick, where a person's mind is constantly bound up with Hashem in everything they do.
How do we reach such a high level? The Rambam gives us the key: love is the child of knowledge. You cannot truly love someone you do not know. The more you dedicate yourself to understanding Hashem's wisdom, looking at His creation, and learning His Torah, the more your heart will naturally catch fire with love for Him. It is a gradual process, a 'secret' we integrate bit by bit, moving from serving for reward to serving for the sake of the Beloved.
Today, when you perform a mitzvah or sit down to learn, pause for just ten seconds before you begin. Instead of doing it out of habit or for a personal benefit, say to yourself: 'I am doing this purely because I love Hashem and want to connect to His truth.'