Universal Recognition of G-d:
The Meaning of "Fear of G-d"
"G-d, our L-rd, place your fear upon all of Your
creatures…and then all of mankind will unite to serve You wholeheartedly.…"
[High Holidays Amidah prayer]
Why do our prayers for a better world include a request for universal
"Fear of G-d"? Wouldn’t love be a more inspirational foundation for
religious commitment?
The most striking view of the role of fear in our relationship with G-d
is found in the Torah’s account of the Revelation at Sinai:
…on the day you stood before G-d your L-rd at Horeb
[Sinai]…G-d said to me, "Gather the People for Me, and I will let them hear My
words. This will teach them to be in awe of Me as long as they live on earth, and they
will also teach their children. (Deuteronomy 4:10)
All the People saw the sounds, the flames, the blast of the
ram’s horn, and the mountain smoking. The People trembled when they saw
it…"Don’t be afraid," replied Moses to the People. "G-d has come
only to refine you. His fear will then be on your faces, and you will not sin."
(Exodus 20:15-17)
Nachmanides (1194-1270, Spain) describes the lasting
benefits of the fear-inspiring Revelation at Sinai:
G-d has come only to refine you – G-d revealed His awesome
Presence to you in order to instill in the hearts of the Jewish People a profound and
eternal trust in G-d.
His fear will then be on your faces and you will not sin –
now you realize that G-d alone controls everything in heaven and in earth. This awareness
will inspire a great fear within you so that you will refrain from sinful behavior.
When we love someone, we give of ourselves and of our possessions in
order to create a stronger bond with our beloved. In a loving relationship, we consider
what thoughts and actions will lead to the development of a closer connection with another
person. By the same token, when we seek a loving relationship with G-d, our desire is to
give of ourselves to do G-d's Will.
In every case, however, love must be controlled. Without boundaries for
its expression, the lover loses touch with the reality of the beloved's needs and wishes.
In this case, fear is a very positive element: when we fear the consequences of our
actions, we can act on our love within an appropriate framework. Guided by such
"fear," we consider our deeds more carefully and channel our love into
appropriate times and expressions. While love prompts us into action, fear creates
standards for those actions.
What form of "Fear of G-d" do we pray for in this High
Holidays’ prayer? Rabbi Joseph B. Soloveitchik (20th century,
United States) explains:
Anecdote: Discovering the right fear
An eminent psychiatrist once told me:
"Had I the authority to do so, I would eliminate the High Holy Day
prayer that begins with the words, ‘Place Your fear….’ Fear
is the major cause of the various mental illnesses that beset mankind. In order to
preserve one’s mental health, one should be free of fears. There is certainly no
reason why anyone should ever pray for fear," he pronounced with confidence.
His words actually helped me understand the true nature of this prayer,
and so I explained to him:
"Everyone seems to be beset with fears of all kinds. Some are
afraid that they will not succeed in their careers; others fear that they will lose their
wealth or status, or that they will fail to achieve sufficient status. Many people fear
sickness and bodily weakness, as well as a host of other possible problems and
difficulties. Man is constantly plagued with all sorts of often insignificant fears. I am
not a psychiatrist, but I do know that there is one fear that can eradicate all others
– it is the fear of G-d! That is what we request in this High Holiday prayer: We pray
that this most significant "fear" will free us of from all the others that
adversely affect our lives."
On Rosh Hashanah, we pray that G-d should reveal to all mankind that He
controls the Universe. When people know that events are controlled by G-d, and not by
blind fate, their attitudes can engender a healthy outlook on life. More than a fear of
the consequences of violating G-d’s Will, such awareness creates a comforting
recognition of the fact that everything that happens to us is based in divine purpose.
Thus, all other fears can dissolve in the face of the "fear" of being under
G-d’s direct supervision. |
