Rabbi Aharon Levy, of Judaism Arachim, meaning, Jewish values, is a bright minded man whose lectures are given in the Hebrew language, the bible’s language.
I must admit, I never heard of Rabbi Levy until recently, when I had the opportunity to hear him, by invitation to a private home. The subject of his lecture was, ‘The art of love: the role of love in our lives’. The reason I was attracted to the subject of LOVE and thus went to hear what Rabbi Levy has to say about it is because I find that people do not know what love is all about. Or, people seek to love and be loved and do not know exactly what they are seeking in the world of love. Also, it maybe that love is right in front of their face and in their heart only that they have not recognized it.
Here is my take of what love is, according to Rabbi Levy in conjunction with my thoughts.
Love is in the air when a person receives more than what he or she deserves. However, only humility will help recognizing this effect. The notion of receiving more than one overtly or covertly receives arouses a deep feeling that is called love, and love encompasses many sensations and feeling, all are combined into that sought after term ‘LOVE’.
Being a faithful believer, Rabbi Levy sees the hand of G-D in the love triangle. A person who believes is the one who senses that G-D gives him or her more than he or she deserves.
The problem begins what a person thinks he or she deserves it all. Where there is pride and hubris love cannot exist. There is no love that can satisfy one’s hubris and self-worth.
In order to have love in one’s life it is required to have humility.
For instance, the greatest enemy of vanity and beauty is time. However, if beauty comes from within, time is no longer a factor.
Now, we bring G-D into the equation.
G-D is a receiver and a giver.
In a world where there is no G-D, there is much expectations and no modesty therefore, there is no room for love.
If a person wants to love and be loved, he or she needs to include and welcome faith - G-D - into one’s life.
The key is piety with humility. There is no humility if G-D is not a part of the person’s life, if G-D is not in mankind.
The clandestine and the overt, both, exist in a person. It is impossible to love G-D if there is no ‘Thy shall love your neighbor as you love yourself’ in one’s life.G. K. Chesterton once said that ‘when a man stops believing in God he doesn't believe in nothing, he believes in anything’; I will say that when a man does not believe in God he/she believes in anything but love.
It is rather difficult to follow the mind of Rabbi Levy only because his thoughts are deep and need regurgitation and re-listening several times in order to comprehend them to the fullest. But to hear his outlook on life could be a peg of strength in a person’s life and a light that shines a path to finding love.