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Rabbi Adin Steinsaltz: “Contemplation of the greatness of God.”

In order to attain knowledge of God and the emotional experiencethat comes with it, one must contemplate His greatness.

Contemplation is not a random passing thought, but rather, it is focused thinking
about a defined topic for a period of time.

It involves a person envisioning the issue in his mind and repeatedly contemplating its various angles and components.

Such contemplation of the greatness of God is on multiple levels, as is explained in numerous places.

There is the level on which a person contemplates the cosmos and is amazed in the face of its

grandeur, and asks, “Who created these?”

There is a higher level, when a person contemplates the upper spiritual essences.

Then there is the highest level, on which one’s consciousness actually touches the divine essence itself.

This type of contemplation generates an emotional response within a person regarding the object of contemplation.

It can be a relationship of attraction or repulsion, love or fear.

When the objects of one’s contemplation are God’s infinite greatness and exaltedness, the person experiences an emotional response reflective of the emotive aspect of those objects, namely, a higher-level fear.

Rabbi Adin Steinsaltz