Va’eschanan 6:5 · unit 3

TT #34 · Parashas Va’eschanan · Passuk 6:5

The Complete Passuk

וְאָ֣הַבְתָּ֔ אֵ֖ת יְהֹוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֶ֑יךָ בְּכׇל־לְבָבְךָ֥ וּבְכׇל־נַפְשְׁךָ֖ וּבְכׇל־מְאֹדֶֽךָ׃

…with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your might.

Chabad.org — 6:5

Source Citation

Torah Temimah points to the baraisa of R’ Eliezer explaining why both “with all your soul” and “with all your might” are needed (Berachos 61b / parallel).

Sefaria — Berachos 61b

Core Text of Chazal

Core Text
תַּנְיָא, רַבִּי אֱלִיעֶזֶר אוֹמֵר: אִם נֶאֱמַר בְּכׇל־נַפְשְׁךָ לָמָּה נֶאֱמַר בְּכׇל־מְאֹדֶךָ, וְאִם נֶאֱמַר בְּכׇל־מְאֹדֶךָ לָמָּה נֶאֱמַר בְּכׇל־נַפְשְׁךָ? אֶלָּא אִם יֵשׁ לְךָ אָדָם שֶׁגּוּפוֹ חָבִיב עָלָיו מִמָּמוֹנוֹ — לָכָךְ נֶאֱמַר בְּכׇל־נַפְשְׁךָ; וְאִם יֵשׁ לְךָ אָדָם שֶׁמָּמוֹנוֹ חָבִיב עָלָיו מִגּוּפוֹ — לָכָךְ נֶאֱמַר בְּכׇל־מְאֹדֶךָ.

English: It was taught, R’ Eliezer says: If it says “with all your soul,” why does it say “with all your might”? And if it says “with all your might,” why does it say “with all your soul”? Rather, if there is a person whose body is more precious to him than his money — for that reason it says “with all your soul”; and if there is a person whose money is more precious to him than his body — for that reason it says “with all your might.”

On the daf / in context: The double expression covers both personality types so that no one is exempt from the full demand of love of God.

Type of Learning

Diyuk of the necessity of both phrases — covering those who value body over wealth and those who value wealth over body.

What Is Learned

Whether a person holds life or property dearer, the verse requires him to surrender the more precious of the two for the love of Hashem.