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<p>The following is from Rav Schwab on Prayer page 300 where he comments on <em>v'ychad levavainu l'ahavah u'l'yereh shmecha
</em>which we say in the bracha before Krias Shema.</p>
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<p>The combination of ahavas Hashem and yiras Hashem can be achieved<br>
only through learning Torah. Without limud haTorah, any feelings of<br>
longing that a person may have for the Jewish way of life as practiced in the<br>
old kehillos of the towns and villages of Europe do not represent the love or<br>
fear of HaKadosh Baruch Hu. Rather, they are mostly nostalgic sentiments,<br>
somewhat like that which is expressed by the song "Mein Shtetele Belz. "<br>
They have no real connection with HaKadosh Baruch Hu. Such a connection<br>
can be achieved only through limud ha Torah. One cannot fear or love<br>
something that is only an idea. By learning Torah, we recognize the reality<br>
of HaKadosh Baruch Hu and, consequently, can achieve both ahavas<br>
Hashem and yiras Hashem.</p>
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Love and fear are really contradicting relationships. One either fears<br>
another, or loves him. Love draws one to something, and fear repels one<br>
from it. We therefore ask HaKadosh Baruch Hu in this tefillah that in our<br>
relationship to Him, He allow us to have both sentiments, that of our love<br>
for Him, together with our fear of violating His will. This is the meaning of<br>
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<p><em><em>v'ychad levavainu</em></em>·</p>
<p><br>
To "fear" HaKadosh Baruch Hu does not mean that one must constantly<br>
tremble before Him. Rather, it means that one is to be afraid to violate His<br>
will. This is similar to the fear a driver has of going through a red light,<br>
which does not mean that he sits in his car and trembles. On the contrary,<br>
he can be very relaxed, while at the same time being acutely aware of the<br>
danger to his life should he go through that red light. This "fear" actually<br>
makes driving very safe. Similarly, we ask HaKadosh Baruch Hu to unify<br>
our hearts, <em>l'yachad</em>. to love Him, while at the same time, to make us afraid of<br>
transgressing His will.</p>
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<p>YL</p>
<p>__________________________<br>
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<p>BTW, I highly recommend the sefer Rav Schwab on Prayer. It gives many insights into our davening that I was most certainly not aware of.
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