nides brings in from Deuteronomy how we are required to love God. He explains that by studying and immersing ourselves in God’s commandments, we fulfill this. This will give us an image of God, and as we truly discover God, reach a level joy. This can be tied to Soloveichick’s article in regard to a cure for existential loneliness. Maimonides continues and says that loving God is obligatory. With that statement, I see a problem. How can we be required to love God? Is not love something that must be earned and developed? When somebody has a tragedy happen to them, can they still love God? From a personal note, I was diagnosed and treated for a form of cancer. If God caused me to go through that pain and suffering, couldn’t that be construed as God not loving me? When I think of how much I love my fiance, I say to myself that I would never be able to hurt her intentionally, and when I do it accidentally, I feel horrible for it. God is supposed to be perfect, so when bad things happen these are not mistakes. When speaking to many, I typically heard that maybe this was a substitute fore something worse. So if we think in this way, those that believe in God, with all of modern medicines cures, people are given a second chance and they should love God for it. This seems to make the commandment a bit easier to understand. That still doesn’t answer how we are required to love God. If a parent abused a child, must that child still love them, no. So too with God, it seems that we should not be forced into loving God. Love should come from within, not be commanded. Maimonides answers through though of God, one will come to understand God and eventually love him. The love Maimonides describes seems like Soloveichicks Adam II type of love. He describes it as a mighty and great love, so great that our soul feels attached to God. A love so great that one strives for it all the time. I see this as a true definition of love. Th...
