Positive Mitzvah Six To Cleave To G-d
The Sages explain that the way to cleave to G-d is by attaching oneself to Torah scholars (Rashi). By this injunction we are commanded to mix and associate with wise men, to be always in their company, and to join with them in every possible manner of fellowship: in eating, drinking, and business affairs, to the end that we may succeed in becoming like them in respect of their actions and in acquiring true opinions from their words. The wise man, or as he is called in Hebrew talmid chacham, 'the disciple of a wise man', interpreting and exemplifying as he does the word of G-d, is regarded in Jewish thought as being nearest to Him. To cleave to the wise man is thus to cleave to Hashem (Berachot 10b; Pesachim 22b) RaMBaN interprets "cleaving" as the duty to avoid the temptation of idol worship by always remembering G-d and inspiring oneself to love Him. |