“…with all your heart and with all your soul.” (Devarim 11:13)

We understand that these words which we say twice a day tell us that one’s service and devotion to Hashem must be full and all-encompassing. Rav Elyakim Schlesinger (b. 1921) from London related the following story about the Kotzker Rebbe (1787–1859) which he heard from the Brisker Rav:

It was Rosh Hashanah, and as was the custom of the Kotzker Rebbe, he did not daven in the Beis Medrash, but instead in his private room on the side of the Beis Medrash. Suddenly his door burst open, the Rebbe came out and said, “I know what you asked for, and I know what Hashem’s response was!” He then closed the door and went back into seclusion. The Chassidim understood that he wanted to teach them some kind of a lesson, so timidly one of the Chassidim knocked on his door and asked, “What was it that we asked for?” The Kotzker Rebbe replied, “You said to Hashem, ‘We really would love to serve you. We ask that you give us tranquility, taking away all things that cause us not to be able to focus on our service to you – even if the price will be that we lose out on living a comfortable life.’” Then the Rebbe closed the door and went back into seclusion. The Chassidim were surprised that the Rebbe’s words were right on the money. They then knocked on the door again and asked, “May we please know, what was Hashem’s response?” The Kotzker said: “Hashem said, ‘What I am really looking for is that you serve Me with whatever I throw at you – It is not for you to choose what I throw at you or where I throw it!’”

This is indeed a fascinating idea which gives a broader understanding of the words “bechol livavecha” – meaning, not only with all of one’s heart, but also to be devoted in any situation that arises.

Reb Yitzchak Hutner explained this verse in a totally different way. He said that there are people who consecrate their lives to learning Torah and yet they have a pull towards wanting to live a more financially successful life. This can be seen in how excited they are about money vs. how excited they are about Torah. The neighbor next door, who may even have learned with him in yeshiva, instead went into business. However, he wishes he could be a much greater Talmid Chacham. He shows greater honor to Rabanim than to wealthy people, and wishes he had more time to learn. Rav Hutner said that even if the first person was well-versed in Shas and Torah, the second person is much closer to Hashem.  He explains this based on a verse in Mishlei 27:21 “וְאִישׁ לְפִי מַהֲלָלו” (And a man is appraised by what he praises). What a person admires tells us who he really is. This man who lived his life learning Torah, though he may have done all the right actions, but he was missing “…with all your heart and with all your soul.” The man who was in business obviously understood that making money was not the purpose of life – it was just a necessity to live. His heart never left the Beis Medrash and therefore he is much closer to Hashem.

In fact, this week I met a man who recently closed his successful business and went into retirement.  He clearly vocalized to me that life is not about making money – there are other things which are more important. True to his word, today he spends much of his day learning.

When we sit down to learn or to do other mitzvos, I believe it is really important that we should really do them ”with all your heart and with all your soul”. Whether Hashem has given us a life where we get involved in Torah and mitzvos for most of our day, or for only a few hours. Whatever we are doing should be with all our heart, knowing this is what Hashem wants from us.