Дварим 28:9 Каббала: Ohr Ne'erav & Sha'arei Orah

“[The other nations] do not cling to Him and do not follow His laws.” This refers to the establishment of justice and of good qualities, such as mercy, generosity, and silence, which our rabbis, their memory be a blessing, ascribed [to Him] in several places. These are His qualities, may He be blessed, and His laws which are apart from the [laws enumerated in the] Torah. Thus [Scripture] states, You shall walk in His ways (Deut. 28:9), just as He is merciful.¹²Cf. Sotah 14a.

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).

Whoever understands this primary principle will understand the great level of our forefather Avraham, peace be upon him. He will understand the secret of the verse,²³²Psalms 19:10 “The fear of HaShem-Yirat HaShem-יראת יהו״ה is pure, enduring forever,” and the secret of the verse,²³³Psalms 112:1 “Praiseworthy is the man who fears HaShem-Yarei et HaShem-ירא את יהו״ה, who greatly desires His commandments,” and the secret of the verse,²³⁴Psalms 128:1 “Praiseworthy is each person who fears HaShem- יהו״ה, who walks in His ways.” In explanation, if the verse already said, “Praiseworthy is each person who fears HaShem-יהו״ה,” what then is the meaning of the continuation, “who walks in His ways”? Rather, what it means is that the fear-Yirah-יראה mentioned here is the matter of the inner fear (Yirah Penimeet), which itself is the secret of one “who walks in His ways,” and is the secret of, “who greatly desires His commandments,” which is the matter of the verse,²³⁵Deuteronomy 28:9 “You shall walk in His ways.” These two verses therefore begin with the word “Praiseworthy-Ashrei-אשרי,” a term indicating that this matter is beloved. Many important principles depend on this. Therefore, contemplate every verse in which you find the word “Fear-Yirah-יראה.”