Kabbalah Imamat 19:2: Kuntres Mattan Torah & Sha'arei Orah

This is not the end of the discussion. The only purpose the Torah and the commandments were given is to refine the people of Israel with them, which is bodily purification (as above in section 12). Thanks to them, one would later receive the true reward, which is cleaving to blessed God. This is the aim of Creation (as said above in section 6; read there carefully). This reward is expressed in the words “a holy nation” – through cleaving to him we become holy, as said, “You shall be holy; for I the Lord your God am holy” (Leviticus 19:2).

This is the secret of the verse,²²³Deuteronomy 28:9 “You shall walk in His ways,” about which our sages expounded,²²⁴Talmud Bavli, Shabbat 133b “Just as He is compassionate, so you be compassionate; Just as He is merciful, so you be merciful.” That is, accustom yourself to adorn in the ornaments and vestments that are customary in the palace of the King, so that you will be worthy of entering His court and serving before Him. For, if you do not garb yourself in the appropriate vestments and adornments, you will be barred from the palace of the King. Now, what are these adornments? They are all the positive commandments, each according to its kind. This is the secret of the verse, “You shall walk in His ways,” and,²²⁵Leviticus 19:2 “You shall be holy,” and this is the matter of the inner fear (Yirah Penimeet). This is the quality that Avraham inherited at the binding of Yitzchak, which is loftier than love-Ahavah-אהבה. This is because Avraham’s service of HaShem-יהו״ה, blessed is He, out of love, was constant, as it states,²²⁶Isaiah 41:8 “Avraham who loved Me-Ohavee-אוהבי.” It does not say, “Avraham My beloved-Ahuvi-אהובי,” but rather, “Avraham who loved Me-Ohavee-אוהבי,” and it states,²²⁷Proverbs 8:21 “I have something-Yesh-יש to bestow on those who love Me-Ohavai-אוהבי.” This is the world that Chizkiyah feared that he would not merit, as it states,²²⁸Isaiah 38:11 “I had said, ‘I will not see Ya”h-י״ה, Ya”h-י״ה in the Land of the Living-Eretz HaChayim-ארץ החיים.’” This being so, remember these important principles that we have conveyed to you, in the following way: There is external fear (Yirah Chitzonit), and there is love (Ahavah) which is higher than it. However, there is inner fear (Yirah Penimit) that ascends even higher than love (Ahavah).