## Duties of the Heart, Tenth Treatise on Devotion to God, Introduction

###### Duties of the Heart, Tenth Treatise on Devotion to God, Introduction 1
[Duties of the Heart, Tenth Treatise on Devotion to God, Introduction 1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Duties%20of%20the%20Heart/s/Tenth%20Treatise%20on%20Devotion%20to%20God,_Introduction/r/1)

**בְּאַהֲבַת הָאֱלֹהִים הַשְּׁלֵמָה. וְזֶה פֶּתַח הַשַּׁעַר:**
אָמַר הַמְחַבֵּר מִפְּנֵי שֶׁהִקְדַּמְנוּ בְּמָה שֶׁעָבַר מִדְּבָרֵינוּ בַּשַּׁעַר הַתְּשִׁיעִי בֵּאוּר עִנְיַן הַפְּרִישׁוּת מִן הָעוֹלָם וְהָיְתָה כַּוָּנָתֵנוּ לְיַחֵד הַלֵּב וּלְפַנּוֹתוֹ לְאַהֲבַת הַבּוֹרֵא יִתְבָּרַךְ וְלִכְסֹף לִרְצוֹנוֹ רָאִיתִי לִסְמֹךְ לוֹ בֵּאוּר אָפְנֵי אַהֲבַת הָאֵל יִתְבָּרַךְ כִּי הִיא תַּכְלִית הַתְּכוּנוֹת וְסוֹף הַמַּעֲלוֹת בְּמַדְרֵגוֹת אַנְשֵׁי הָעֲבוֹדָה. וְאוֹמַר וּבֵאלֹהִים אֵעָזֵר.

**Duties of the Heart, trans. Rabbi Yosef Sebag:**
Since our previous discussion in the ninth gate dealt with clarifying the subject of separating from this world, and our intent in it was to unify the heart and free it for love of the Creator, and for yearning to do His will, I saw proper to follow with a clarification of the ways of love of G-d, because it is the purpose of all the steps, and the final stage in the levels of the men who serve G-d. I will begin, and I seek from G-d to help me.


###### Duties of the Heart, Tenth Treatise on Devotion to God, Introduction 2
[Duties of the Heart, Tenth Treatise on Devotion to God, Introduction 2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Duties%20of%20the%20Heart/s/Tenth%20Treatise%20on%20Devotion%20to%20God,_Introduction/r/2)

רָאוּי לְךָ אָחִי שֶׁתָּבִין וְתֵדַע כִּי כָל מָה שֶׁקָּדַם לָנוּ זִכְרוֹ בַּסֵּפֶר הַזֶּה מֵחוֹבוֹת הַלְּבָבוֹת וְהַמִּדּוֹת וְנִדְבַת הַנְּפָשׁוֹת הֵם מַעֲלוֹת וּמַדְרֵגוֹת אֶל הָעִנְיָן הָעֶלְיוֹן הַזֶּה אֲשֶׁר הִתְכַּוְנְנוּ לְבָאֲרוֹ בַּשַּׁעַר הַזֶּה, וְגַם רָאוּי לְךָ לָדַעַת כִּי כָל חוֹבָה וְכָל מִדָּה טוֹבָה מֻשְׂכֶּלֶת אוֹ כְּתוּבָה אוֹ מְקֻבֶּלֶת הֵן תְּכוּנוֹת וּמַעֲלוֹת שֶׁעוֹלִים בָּהֶן אֶל הָעִנְיָן הַזֶּה וְהוּא תַּכְלִיתָן וְסוֹפָן אֵין מַדְרֵגָה לְמַעְלָה מִמֶּנּוּ וְלֹא אַחֲרָיו,

**Duties of the Heart, trans. Rabbi Yosef Sebag:**
It is proper for you, my brother, that you understand and that you know, that everything we previously mentioned of the duties of the heart and limbs, and the volunteering of the soul, they are all rungs and steps leading to this sublime matter, which is our intent to clarify in this gate. It is also proper for you to know that every duty and every good quality, whether it comes through reason, scripture, or tradition, are all steps and stages by which one ascends to this matter, and it is their ultimate purpose and destination. There is no level above it or after it.


###### Duties of the Heart, Tenth Treatise on Devotion to God, Introduction 3
[Duties of the Heart, Tenth Treatise on Devotion to God, Introduction 3](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Duties%20of%20the%20Heart/s/Tenth%20Treatise%20on%20Devotion%20to%20God,_Introduction/r/3)

וּמִפְּנֵי זֶה סְמָכוֹ הַנָּבִיא ע״ה בְּמִשְׁנֵה תּוֹרָה לַיִּחוּד בְּאָמְרוֹ (דברים ו) שְׁמַע יִשְׂרָאֵל ה׳ אֱלֹהֵינוּ ה׳ אֶחָד וְאָהַבְתָּ אֶת ה׳ אֱלֹהֶיךָ וְגוֹ׳ וְזֵרֵז עָלָיו וְהֵשִׁיב אוֹתוֹ בְּמִשְׁנֵה תּוֹרָה הַרְבֵּה כְּמוֹ שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (שם ל) לְאַהֲבָה אֶת ה׳ אֱלֹהֶיךָ לִשְׁמֹעַ בְּקֹלוֹ וּלְדָבְקָה בוֹ. וְטַעַם הַדְּבִיקָה הָאַהֲבָה הַנֶּאֱמָנָה וְהַלֵּב הַשָּׁלֵם בָּהּ כמ״ש (משלי יח) וְיֵשׁ אֹהֵב דָּבֵק מֵאָח.

**Duties of the Heart, trans. Rabbi Yosef Sebag:**
Therefore, because of this, the prophet (Moshe), peace be upon him, placed it immediately after the unity of G-d, in saying: *"Hear, O Israel: The L-ord is our G-d; the L-ord is one; And you shall love the L-ord, your G-d..."* (Devarim 6:4), and he exhorted on it, and returned to it many times, as written: *"To love the L-ord your G-d, to hearken to His voice, and to cleave to Him"* (Devarim 30:20). The meaning of cleaving is: faithful love, and wholehearted devotion, as written: *"there is a friend who cleaves closer than a brother"*(Mishlei 18:24).


###### Duties of the Heart, Tenth Treatise on Devotion to God, Introduction 4
[Duties of the Heart, Tenth Treatise on Devotion to God, Introduction 4](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Duties%20of%20the%20Heart/s/Tenth%20Treatise%20on%20Devotion%20to%20God,_Introduction/r/4)

וְהַרְבֵּה פְּעָמִים מַקְדִּים הַסֵּפֶר זֵכֶר יִרְאַת הָאֱלֹהִים עַל אַהֲבָתוֹ כְּמוֹ שֶׁאָמַר (דברים י) וְעַתָּה יִשְׂרָאֵל מָה ה׳ אֱלֹהֶיךָ שֹׁאֵל מֵעִמָּךְ כִּי אִם לְיִרְאָה וְאָמַר (שם) אֶת ה׳ אֱלֹהֶיךָ תִּירָא וְגוֹ׳, וְחִיֵּב הַדִּין לְהַקְדִּים הַיִּרְאָה עַל הָאַהֲבָה בֵּאלֹהִים מִפְּנֵי שֶׁהִיא תַּכְלִית הַפְּרִישׁוּת וְסוֹפָהּ הָרָחוֹק וְהַקְּרוֹבָה שֶׁבַּמַּדְרֵגוֹת אֶל מַדְרֵגַת אַהֲבַת הָאֱלֹהִים וְהוּא הַשַּׁעַר הָרִאשׁוֹן מִשְּׁעָרֶיהָ, וְאִי אֶפְשָׁר שֶׁיַּגִּיעַ הָאָדָם אֵלֶיהָ אֶלָּא אַחֵר שֶׁתִּקְדַּם יִרְאָתוֹ וּפַחְדּוֹ מֵאֱלֹהִים יִתְבָּרַךְ,

**Duties of the Heart, trans. Rabbi Yosef Sebag:**
Frequently the torah places fear of G-d before love of Him, as written *"And now, Israel, what does the L-ord your G-d require of you, but to fear the L-ord your G-d, to walk in all His ways, and to love Him"* (Devarim 10:12), and it says: *"You shall fear the L-ord your G-d; and to Him shall you cling"* (Devarim 10:20). It is correct to place fear of G-d before love of G-d because [fear of G-d] is the final purpose and furthest end of abstinence, which in turn is the nearest level approaching the lowest level of love of G-d, and the first gate of its gates, and it is impossible for a man to reach it without preceding fear and fright of G-d.


###### Duties of the Heart, Tenth Treatise on Devotion to God, Introduction 5
[Duties of the Heart, Tenth Treatise on Devotion to God, Introduction 5](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Duties%20of%20the%20Heart/s/Tenth%20Treatise%20on%20Devotion%20to%20God,_Introduction/r/5)

וְעַל כֵּן הִקְדַּמְנוּ שַׁעַר הַפְּרִישׁוּת לַשַּׁעַר הַזֶּה כִּי מִן הַנִּמְנָע מִמֶּנּוּ שֶׁתִּתְיַשֵּׁב אַהֲבַת הַבּוֹרֵא בְּלִבֵּנוּ עִם הִתְיַשֵּׁב אַהֲבַת הָעוֹלָם בָּנוּ, וְכַאֲשֶׁר יִהְיֶה לֵב הַמַּאֲמִין רֵיק מֵאַהֲבַת הָעוֹלָם וּפָנוּי מִתַּאֲווֹתָיו מִצַּד הַכָּרָה וּבִינָה תִּתְיַשֵּׁב אַהֲבַת הַבּוֹרֵא בְּלִבּוֹ וְתִהְיֶה תְּקוּעָה בְּנַפְשׁוֹ כְּפִי הִכָּסְפוֹ לוֹ וְהַכָּרָתוֹ אוֹתוֹ כמ״ש (ישעיהו כ״ו:ח׳) אַף אֹרַח מִשְׁפָּטֶיךָ ה׳ קִוִּינוּךָ וְגוֹ׳.

**Duties of the Heart, trans. Rabbi Yosef Sebag:**
And therefore, we have preceded the gate of abstinence, because it is impossible to establish love of G-d in our hearts if the love of this world is established there. But when the heart of the believer is empty from the love of this world and free of its lusts, out of recognition and understanding - the love of the Creator will establish in his heart, and it will be set in his soul according to his yearning to Him, and his recognition of Him, as written: *"In the way of Your judgments, O L-ord, have we waited for You [the desire of our soul is to Your Name, and to the remembrance of You]"* (Yeshaya 26:8).


###### Duties of the Heart, Tenth Treatise on Devotion to God, Introduction 6
[Duties of the Heart, Tenth Treatise on Devotion to God, Introduction 6](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Duties%20of%20the%20Heart/s/Tenth%20Treatise%20on%20Devotion%20to%20God,_Introduction/r/6)

וְרָאוּי שֶׁנְּבָאֵר מִדִּבְרֵי הָאַהֲבָה שִׁבְעָה עִנְיָנִים:

**Duties of the Heart, trans. Rabbi Yosef Sebag:**
It is fitting that we clarify of the subject of love of G-d seven matters:


###### Duties of the Heart, Tenth Treatise on Devotion to God, Introduction 7
[Duties of the Heart, Tenth Treatise on Devotion to God, Introduction 7](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Duties%20of%20the%20Heart/s/Tenth%20Treatise%20on%20Devotion%20to%20God,_Introduction/r/7)

אֶחָד מֵהֶם מָה הוּא עֲנַף הָאַהֲבָה בֵּאלֹהִים יִתְבָּרַךְ.

**Duties of the Heart, trans. Rabbi Yosef Sebag:**
1. What is the matter of love G-d?


###### Duties of the Heart, Tenth Treatise on Devotion to God, Introduction 8
[Duties of the Heart, Tenth Treatise on Devotion to God, Introduction 8](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Duties%20of%20the%20Heart/s/Tenth%20Treatise%20on%20Devotion%20to%20God,_Introduction/r/8)

וְהַשֵּׁנִי עַל כַּמָּה פָּנִים תִּהְיֶה הָאַהֲבָה בֵּאלֹהִים.

**Duties of the Heart, trans. Rabbi Yosef Sebag:**
2. How many kinds of love of G-d are there?


###### Duties of the Heart, Tenth Treatise on Devotion to God, Introduction 9
[Duties of the Heart, Tenth Treatise on Devotion to God, Introduction 9](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Duties%20of%20the%20Heart/s/Tenth%20Treatise%20on%20Devotion%20to%20God,_Introduction/r/9)

וְהַשְּׁלִישִׁי אֵיךְ הַדֶּרֶךְ אֵלֶיהָ.

**Duties of the Heart, trans. Rabbi Yosef Sebag:**
3. What is the path to it?


###### Duties of the Heart, Tenth Treatise on Devotion to God, Introduction 10
[Duties of the Heart, Tenth Treatise on Devotion to God, Introduction 10](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Duties%20of%20the%20Heart/s/Tenth%20Treatise%20on%20Devotion%20to%20God,_Introduction/r/10)

וְהָרְבִיעִי אִם הִיא בִּיכֹלֶת הָאָדָם אִם לֹא.

**Duties of the Heart, trans. Rabbi Yosef Sebag:**
4. If it is possible or not for a human being to love G-d


###### Duties of the Heart, Tenth Treatise on Devotion to God, Introduction 11
[Duties of the Heart, Tenth Treatise on Devotion to God, Introduction 11](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Duties%20of%20the%20Heart/s/Tenth%20Treatise%20on%20Devotion%20to%20God,_Introduction/r/11)

וְהַחֲמִישִׁי בְּאָפְנֵי מַפְסִידֶיהָ.

**Duties of the Heart, trans. Rabbi Yosef Sebag:**
5. matters detrimental to it


###### Duties of the Heart, Tenth Treatise on Devotion to God, Introduction 12
[Duties of the Heart, Tenth Treatise on Devotion to God, Introduction 12](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Duties%20of%20the%20Heart/s/Tenth%20Treatise%20on%20Devotion%20to%20God,_Introduction/r/12)

וְהַשִּׁשִּׁי אוֹתוֹתֶיהָ אֲשֶׁר בָּהֶם תִּתְבָּרֵר מֵהַמַּאֲמִין.

**Duties of the Heart, trans. Rabbi Yosef Sebag:**
6. Its marks, through which it is identified in a believer


###### Duties of the Heart, Tenth Treatise on Devotion to God, Introduction 13
[Duties of the Heart, Tenth Treatise on Devotion to God, Introduction 13](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Duties%20of%20the%20Heart/s/Tenth%20Treatise%20on%20Devotion%20to%20God,_Introduction/r/13)

וְהַשְּׁבִיעִי בְּמִנְהֲגֵי אוֹהֲבֵי הָאֱלֹהִים:

**Duties of the Heart, trans. Rabbi Yosef Sebag:**
7. The practices of those who love G-d.