Reverence Through Divine Revelation

ובמורא גדול זה גילוי שכינה.

“And the great awe—this is the revelation of the Divine Presence.”

The Sefat Emet explains that true awe arises when God’s Presence is directly revealed.

זה עיקר היראה כשנתגלה כבוד מלכותו ית"ש.

“This is the essence of awe—when the glory of His kingship is revealed.”

Essential awe is not emotional or intellectual; it comes from encountering divine majesty.

ומעין זה הי' בכל עליות רגלים דכתיב יראה כל זכורך.

“A reflection of this occurred at all pilgrimage festivals, as it is written: ‘All your males shall appear.’”

During the festivals, Israel experienced a small measure of this revelation.

כשבאו לעזרה נתמלאו יראת הרוממות.

“When they came to the Temple courtyard, they were filled with awe of exaltedness.”

The physical act of drawing near the Temple generated spiritual awe.

וע"ז מבקשין ושם נעבדך ביראה.

“And for this we ask: ‘And there we shall serve You in awe.’”

Prayer expresses longing to regain that Temple-based awe.

דכל היראה של עכשיו בגלות אינו בשלימות.

“For all the awe we have now in exile is not complete.”

Exile diminishes the depth of our spiritual experience.

כמ"ש ותהי יראתם אותי מצות אנשים מלומדה.

“As it is written: ‘Their fear of Me is like a commandment learned by rote.’”

Our current awe is mechanical, lacking immediacy.

ולכאורה אין מובן לומר על יראה מצות אנשים מלומדה.

“At first glance, it is difficult to call awe a rote commandment.”

Awe seems emotional, not mechanical, so why call it rote?

דזה שייך על מצות מעשיות שנעשין ברגילות אבל יראה בלב לא שייך רגילות.

“This applies to practical commandments done habitually, but inner awe should not fall into habit.”

One might think only actions—not emotions—can become routine.

רק באמת כל היראה שבא מתוך הבחינה ושכל... אבל אינו יראה העיקרית.

“But in truth, any awe that comes through analysis and intellect… is real, yet not the essential awe.”

Intellectual awe is valid but secondary to awe born of revelation.

רק כשיש גילוי שכינה וחל באמת יראה על מי שזוכה לקבל פני השכינה.

“Only when there is revelation of the Divine Presence does true awe fall upon one who merits it.”

Real awe flows naturally from direct encounter with God.

ויראה כזו הי' לבנ"י בקי"ס דכ' וייראו העם את ה'.

“Such awe was felt by Israel at the Red Sea, as it is written: ‘And the people feared the Lord.’”

The splitting of the sea was a moment of pure revelatory awe.

והוא היראה שיש לצבא מרום ולמלאכי השרת.

“This is the awe possessed by the heavenly hosts and ministering angels.”

Angelic awe is the model of awe born from constant awareness of God.

אבל בגלות שהוא רק ע"י הלימוד והשכל נק' מצות אנשים מלומדה.

“But in exile, where awe comes only through study and intellect, it is called a rote commandment.”

Our exile-awe lacks the living vividness of revelation.

ובאמת יש לנו לבקש לזכות לראות פני אלקים כדי להיות לנו יראה שלימה.

“And truly, we must ask to merit seeing the face of God, so that we may have complete awe.”

Full awe depends on restored divine encounter.

כמ"ש ושם נעבדך ביראה.

“As it is said: ‘And there we shall serve You in awe.’”

This prayer reflects our longing for perfected awe in the rebuilt Temple.

כי אין אנו כדאי' לקבל פני השכינה לבקש על זאת.

“For we are not worthy to receive the Divine Presence to request this.”

The Sefat Emet stresses humility in our aspirations.

רק רשאי לנו לבקש בעבור ליראה אותו באמת.

“But we are permitted to ask in order to truly fear Him.”

Even without worthiness, we may pray for authentic awe.

The Sefat Emet teaches that true awe comes only from divine revelation. In exile we possess only an intellectual, habitual awe, but we are encouraged to pray for restored revelation so that we may serve God with complete and living awe.