Glossary · Torah Ohr · Likkutei Torah
Ahavah v’yirah
אהבה ויראה
Love and awe (ahavah v’yirah)
Love, the soul’s longing to cleave to G‑d, and awe, its self-nullification before Him: opposites born of the mind (“son and daughter”), called the two “wings” that lift one’s service on high.
Where it’s explained
- Torah Ohr, Mishpatim 7, ¶7Love and awe are born, a son and a daughter: love is the son (“He remembered His kindness”), awe the daughter. “A daughter first is a good sign for sons”: one must first arouse the awe of G‑d, the gate. Love and awe a person tries to seize without this are passing imaginings, since they do not come from the “higher land.”
כי אהוי״ר הם בחי׳ בן ובת. שאהבה היא בחי׳ בן כמ״ש זכר חסדו. והיראה היא בחי׳ בת
- Likkutei Torah, Vaeschanan 7, ¶1The “es” in “You shall love es Havayah” adds awe: love must be included with awe, nullification. Love is male and right, so awe is secondary to it and not the reverse. They are opposites: love is the longing to cleave to Him, like one far from his father’s house who yearns to see his face.
והרי אהבה ויראה הם שני הפכיים כי הנה האהבה היא התשוקה לדבקה בו ית׳ היא באה מחמת ריחוק
- Likkutei Torah, Vaeschanan 7, ¶4“Peace to the far and to the near”: the far is love, the near is awe. Awe comes from Chochmah Ila’ah (Atzilus, “near” the revelation of Or Ein Sof); love, even ahavah rabbah, comes from Binah, which nests in Beriah. A higher light (“Kel Elyon”), before which near and far are equal, joins the two opposites.
כי יראה היא מבחינת חכמה עילאה כמ״ש ראשית חכמה יראת ה׳
- Likkutei Torah, Ki Savo 2, ¶1On Rosh Hashanah the very being of the soul is nullified before awe, and there is no room for love. In the Ten Days of Teshuvah love appears, “from afar,” and with it the sense of “yesh,” of one who loves.
ביטול מהות הנפש מפני היראה ולא שייך שם בחי׳ אהבה
- Likkutei Torah, Tazria 3, ¶5The love and awe a person arouses in himself are only an arousal from below for love and awe that come from above. When he first toils to beget them from his understanding, a higher, “male” love is drawn down, ahavah rabbah above his grasp; at times the arousal from above comes first.
שהאוי״ר שהאדם מעורר בנפשו הם רק אתעדל״ת לאהוי״ר הבאים מלמעלה בבחי׳ אתעדל״ע
Stated differently
Whether love comes from closeness and awe from distance, or love from distance and awe from closeness
כי ראיה היא מקרוב והיינו בחינת אהבה שמחמת הקירוב. אבל שמיעה היא מרחוק והיא הגורמת בחינת יראהSight is from near, the love that comes from closeness (ratzo, the first paragraph of the Shema); hearing is from afar and brings awe, when a person pushes himself back and stands at a distance (shov).
האהבה נמשך מבחי׳ הריחוק וזהו נפשי אויתיך בלילה. והיראה נמשך מבחי׳ הקירובLove comes from distance (“my soul longed for You in the night”), and awe from closeness; so at Sinai the people stood far off to rest a little from the great awe of being near.
Discussed by
The Mitteler Rebbe · Biurei HaZohar (Mitteler Rebbe), p. 338
The Mitteler Rebbe gives the natural order, awe from His exaltation (distance) and love from His revelation (closeness), then explains that when love and awe are included in each other they exchange, love born from distance and awe from closeness.
ונמצא יש כאן חילוף המדריגות מריחוק נולדה אהבה ומקירוב נולדה יראה היפך טבע עצמותם כנ״ל, וזהו בחינת התכללות אהבה ויראה למטה
The Rebbe Rashab · Sefer HaMaamarim 5672–5676, p. טו
After love that comes from G‑d’s closeness, the Rebbe Rashab names a more inward love that comes from His exaltation above the worlds, and calls the awe of shov an inner awe that comes from closeness.
אמנם נודע דהאהבה פנימיות יותר היא שנעשה מבחי׳ הרוממות דאוא״ס ב״ה, דהינו כאשר מתבונן איך שכל ההמשכות והגילוים בעולמות
Whether all love is drawn from Binah, or there is also a love drawn from Chochmah Ila’ah
משא״כ האהבה אפי׳ בחי׳ אהבה רבה היא הנמשך מבחי׳ הבינהAwe comes from Chochmah Ila’ah, “near” the revelation of Or Ein Sof; love, even ahavah rabbah, is drawn from Binah, which nests in Beriah, and so love is “from afar.”
וזהו שהאהבה הנמשכת מחכמה נקרא אבני חפץChochmah Ila’ah shines in the inwardness of the heart (Yesod Abba, “the hidden places of the heart”), and the love drawn from it, from Chochmah, is called “stones of desire” (avnei chefetz), deep beyond depth.
Discussed by
The Tzemach Tzedek · Or HaTorah, Vayikra vol. 2, p. תרפז
The Tzemach Tzedek sets the love drawn from Binah and Daas (Avraham) against a love from above them, from Chesed of Chochmah (Aharon’s cloud), and ties the bris to revealing ahavah rabbah.
ההפרש בין האהבה הנמשכת מהבינה ודעת ובין האהבה הנמשך מבחי׳ שלמעלה מהבינה ודעת והוא נמשך מבחי׳ חסד שבחכמה
Further in Chassidus
The Tzemach Tzedek · Or HaTorah, Shemos vol. 2 (Beshalach), p. תה
The Tzemach Tzedek distinguishes outer love and awe, born from contemplating the chain of worlds, from inner love and awe, born from contemplating the Infinite above that chain.ומהתבוננות זו נולד אצלו אהבה ויראה והן בחי׳ אהבה ויראה חיצוניות שלמטה מהשכל, ונמשכים ג״כ מהשכל דרך עו״ע
The Rebbe Rashab · Sefer HaMaamarim 5672–5676, p. יד
The Rebbe Rashab defines love as ratzo, cleaving and drawing near to G‑dliness, and awe as shov, and shows how love leads to mitzvos, the shov in which G‑dliness settles in the soul.רצו״ש בעבודה הן אהבה ויראה דאהבה היא בבחי׳ רצוא שהוא הקירוב והדביקות באלקות ויראה היא בבחי׳ שוב
The Rebbe · Sefer HaMaamarim (bilti muga) 5718, p. נ
The Rebbe defines love and awe as the inwardness of Chesed and Gevurah, the service of Avraham and Yitzchak, and explains how love can be commanded at all when it is a feeling of the heart.אהבה ויראה הם הפנימיות דחסד וגבורה, דאהבה היא פנימיות החסד, וכמו שאנו רואים שסיבת המשכת החסד היא מצד הרגש האהבה לדבר הנאהב
Short quotes, © their publishers; each page opened by a second AI reader.
Sefer HaErchim Chabad
עליית התומ״צ למעלה היא כשקיומם הוא באהבה וביראה דוקא. וכאשר הם באהבה לבדה (או ביראה לבדה) אינן עולות למעלה. כי אהבה ויראה הן תרין גדפין (כנפים), וכמו שהעוף אינו יכול לפרוח בכנף אחדTorah and mitzvos rise above only when kept with love and with awe; with love alone (or awe alone) they do not rise. For love and awe are two wings, and a bird cannot fly with one wing. (our translation)
Sefer HaErchim Chabad, vol. א, entry אהבת ה׳ (סעיף ח: התכללותה מיראה), col. רצג · © Kehot Publication Society, quoted
Main sources
Torah Ohr, Mishpatim 7, ¶7Likkutei Torah, Vaeschanan 7, ¶1Likkutei Torah, Vaeschanan 7, ¶3Likkutei Torah, Vaeschanan 7, ¶4Torah Ohr, Vayechi 1, ¶7Likkutei Torah, Ki Savo 2, ¶1Likkutei Torah, Tazria 3, ¶5Likkutei Torah, Pinchas 4, ¶17
Where it appears
In 222 paragraphs of 142 maamarim.
- Likkutei Torah, Bamidbar 1 ¶2
- Likkutei Torah, Bamidbar 11 ¶1 ¶3
- Likkutei Torah, Eikev 1 ¶1
- Likkutei Torah, Ki Seitzei 5 ¶4
- Likkutei Torah, Korach 1 ¶32 ¶33 ¶36 ¶41
- Likkutei Torah, Re’eh 8 ¶2 ¶3 ¶11
- Likkutei Torah, Shelach 7 ¶3
- Likkutei Torah, Shabbos Shuvah 3 ¶13
- Likkutei Torah, Shir HaShirim 8 ¶19
- Likkutei Torah, Tzav 4 ¶4
- Likkutei Torah, Va’eschanan 5 ¶5 ¶12 ¶19
- Likkutei Torah, Va’eschanan 7 ¶1 ¶3 ¶4 ¶12
- Torah Ohr, Beshalach 4 ¶1 ¶2 ¶7 ¶8 ¶20 ¶22
- Torah Ohr, Mikeitz 4 ¶33 ¶38
- Torah Ohr, Mikeitz 12 ¶16 ¶17 ¶18 ¶22
- Torah Ohr, Vayechi 1 ¶7 ¶12 ¶15
- Likkutei Torah, Bamidbar 2 ¶2
- Likkutei Torah, Bamidbar 19 ¶2 ¶3
- Likkutei Torah, Eikev 3 ¶3
- Likkutei Torah, Masei 2 ¶21
- Likkutei Torah, Masei 3 ¶14
- Likkutei Torah, Re’eh 12 ¶8
- Likkutei Torah, Shelach 9 ¶14 ¶15 ¶17 ¶18 ¶19 ¶21 ¶22
- Likkutei Torah, Shelach 13 ¶6 ¶11
- Likkutei Torah, Shelach 16 ¶20
- Likkutei Torah, Shelach 17 ¶8
- Likkutei Torah, Shir HaShirim 26 ¶29
- Likkutei Torah, Shir HaShirim 29 ¶6
- Likkutei Torah, Shir HaShirim 39 ¶4
- Likkutei Torah, Va’eschanan 9 ¶17
- Torah Ohr, Mikeitz 5 ¶1
- Torah Ohr, Vayeishev 1 ¶4 ¶5 ¶7 ¶13 ¶15
- Likkutei Torah, Pinchas 3 ¶7 ¶9 ¶18
- Likkutei Torah, Eikev 4 ¶2
- Likkutei Torah, Haazinu 3 ¶5 ¶39
- Likkutei Torah, Ki Savo 4 ¶10
- Likkutei Torah, Re’eh 6 ¶21
- Likkutei Torah, Re’eh 10 ¶1
- Likkutei Torah, Shir HaShirim 20 ¶3 ¶28 ¶30
- Likkutei Torah, Shir HaShirim 27 ¶1 ¶5
- Likkutei Torah, Shir HaShirim 36 ¶4
- Likkutei Torah, Shir HaShirim 37 ¶3
- Likkutei Torah, Tazria 3 ¶5
- Likkutei Torah, Va’eschanan 12 ¶6
- Torah Ohr, Tetzaveh 2 ¶6
- Torah Ohr, Va’eira 2 ¶8 ¶14 ¶21
- Likkutei Torah, Shir HaShirim 10 ¶20
- Likkutei Torah, Vayikra 2 ¶22
- Likkutei Torah, Bechukosai 3 ¶3
- Likkutei Torah, Chukas 3 ¶10
- Likkutei Torah, Matos 3 ¶3 ¶16
- Likkutei Torah, Nasso 2 ¶26
- Likkutei Torah, Shemini 2 ¶2
- Torah Ohr, Mikeitz 2 ¶1 ¶2 ¶8
- Torah Ohr, Vayeishev 2 ¶24
- Likkutei Torah, Bamidbar 6 ¶6
- Torah Ohr, Bereishis 8 ¶24 ¶27
- Likkutei Torah, Balak 2 ¶27
- Likkutei Torah, Balak 3 ¶20 ¶22 ¶31
- Likkutei Torah, Behaaloscha 3 ¶27
- Likkutei Torah, Behaaloscha 6 ¶3 ¶24 ¶32 ¶37
- Likkutei Torah, Ki Savo 2 ¶1
- Likkutei Torah, Masei 10 ¶3
- Likkutei Torah, Matos 7 ¶3
- Likkutei Torah, Re’eh 1 ¶2 ¶3 ¶4
- Likkutei Torah, Re’eh 3 ¶9 ¶10 ¶26
- Likkutei Torah, Re’eh 9 ¶1 ¶15
- Likkutei Torah, Rosh Hashanah 4 ¶11
- Likkutei Torah, Shelach 2 ¶13
- Likkutei Torah, Shelach 18 ¶11
- Likkutei Torah, Shemini Atzeres 2 ¶10 ¶11
- Likkutei Torah, Shemini Atzeres 4 ¶8
- Likkutei Torah, Shir HaShirim 5 ¶14
- Likkutei Torah, Shir HaShirim 12 ¶9 ¶10
- Likkutei Torah, Shir HaShirim 19 ¶16
- Torah Ohr, Bereishis 9 ¶3
- Torah Ohr, Chayei Sarah 2 ¶9
- Torah Ohr, Mikeitz 13 ¶16
- Torah Ohr, Mishpatim 5 ¶22 ¶30
- Torah Ohr, Tetzaveh 4 ¶4
- Torah Ohr, Toldos 2 ¶8
- Torah Ohr, Vayeitzei 4 ¶2 ¶3 ¶4 ¶9
- Torah Ohr, Vayigash 1 ¶12
- Torah Ohr, Vayishlach 6 ¶5
- Torah Ohr, Yisro 4 ¶3 ¶4 ¶8
- Likkutei Torah, Bamidbar 7 ¶2
- Likkutei Torah, Behaaloscha 4 ¶6
- Likkutei Torah, Behaaloscha 7 ¶2
- Likkutei Torah, Korach 2 ¶2
- Likkutei Torah, Shelach 12 ¶10
- Likkutei Torah, Shir HaShirim 3 ¶1
- Likkutei Torah, Shir HaShirim 34 ¶2
- Torah Ohr, Mishpatim 7 ¶4 ¶7 ¶12 ¶17
- Likkutei Torah, Bechukosai 2 ¶32 ¶35
- Likkutei Torah, Emor 3 ¶8
- Likkutei Torah, Shir HaShirim 28 ¶3
- Torah Ohr, Va’eira 1 ¶8 ¶14
- Torah Ohr, Vayechi 4 ¶20 ¶21
- Likkutei Torah, Bamidbar 9 ¶8
- Likkutei Torah, Rosh Hashanah 5 ¶11
- Likkutei Torah, Shabbos Shuvah 1 ¶9
- Likkutei Torah, Shir HaShirim 15 ¶11
- Torah Ohr, Ki Sisa 2 ¶1
- Torah Ohr, Megillas Esther 5 ¶14
- Torah Ohr, Mikeitz 16 ¶24
- Torah Ohr, Toldos 3 ¶5 ¶23
- Torah Ohr, Vayeishev 4 ¶9
- Likkutei Torah, Pinchas 4 ¶16 ¶17 ¶18
- Likkutei Torah, Shelach 1 ¶3
- Likkutei Torah, Shemini Atzeres 5 ¶14
- Likkutei Torah, Shir HaShirim 24 ¶6
- Likkutei Torah, Shir HaShirim 41 ¶6
- Likkutei Torah, Tzav 7 ¶13
- Torah Ohr, Mikeitz 15 ¶33 ¶35
- Torah Ohr, Shemos 2 ¶4 ¶5 ¶6 ¶28
- Torah Ohr, Yisro 9 ¶6
- Likkutei Torah, Haazinu 4 ¶4
- Likkutei Torah, Vayikra 1 ¶27
- Torah Ohr, Bereishis 3 ¶2 ¶4
- Torah Ohr, Bereishis 11 ¶6
- Torah Ohr, Terumah 1 ¶5
- Likkutei Torah, Bechukosai 6 ¶6
- Torah Ohr, Mishpatim 6 ¶1
- Likkutei Torah, Rosh Hashanah 3 ¶17
- Likkutei Torah, Shir HaShirim 17 ¶26
- Torah Ohr, Yisro 5 ¶10
- Likkutei Torah, Chukas 7 ¶2
- Likkutei Torah, Bamidbar 12 ¶2
- Likkutei Torah, Va’eschanan 6 ¶18 ¶23
- Likkutei Torah, Shelach 3 ¶1
- Likkutei Torah, Shir HaShirim 32 ¶4
- Torah Ohr, Vayakhel 2 ¶2
- Likkutei Torah, Shir HaShirim 2 ¶6
- Torah Ohr, Mikeitz 11 ¶4
- Torah Ohr, Va’eira 5 ¶13 ¶43
- Torah Ohr, Vayechi 3 ¶22
- Torah Ohr, Yisro 1 ¶8
- Likkutei Torah, Va’eschanan 8 ¶12
- Likkutei Torah, Haazinu 2 ¶10
- Likkutei Torah, Re’eh 2 ¶12
- Likkutei Torah, Shir HaShirim 13 ¶19
- Torah Ohr, Mishpatim 4 ¶14
Written with AI from the paragraphs of Torah Ohr and Likkutei Torah, each entry checked by a second AI reader and every Hebrew quote checked by code; not yet reviewed by a person. Our English: CC BY-NC 4.0.