There are two thoughts that are man’s day and night, thoughts about women, and thoughts about money,¹ and because of them he gives his life. There are other thoughts, envy, enmity, haughtiness, the appetites, the enjoyment of his children, the yearning for sons and women, the entertainment of friends, strolls and the most current banal matters. All of these incur loss of time for the study of the Torah. Therefore, “With all thy heart, with all thy soul” (Deut. 6:7) is stated proximate to worship and love to say, “worship and love the Lord.”² “With all thy might” (Deut. 6:7), “with all your wealth” is not said, but, “thy might,” it is to say, with every attribute that He affords you.³ If wealth is taken from you, do not think after it, everything is for the good. Thus it has been said, “Also unto Thee, O Lord, belongeth mercy for Thou renderest to every man according to his work” (Ps. 62:13). Do not read, “according to his work” but “from his work.” If he has children He takes away his children, if he is wealthy He takes away his wealth during his lifetime, but this is a great kindness for He punishes him in this world of vanity, in order to bring him to the world to come.⁴ Another interpretation of “with all thy might,” with all the depth of your thoughts as “Thy thoughts are very deep” (Ps. 92:6).

footnotes: ¹ Baba Bathra 164a. ² Maimonides, Commentary on Aboth, Chapter I, p. 3. ³ Berakoth 54a. Another possible meaning is that one should love God no matter what treatment he metes out, good or evil. ⁴ Erubin 22a.