Rambam - Sefer HaMitzvos: Positive Mitzvah 3, 4, 9: Positive Mitzvah 3, 4, 9

Positive Mitzvah 3: Loving G-d
Deuteronomy 6:5 "And you shall love the L-rd, your G-d"

We feel closest to our best friends.

We think about them, understand them and try to do things to please them. We do this because we love our friends.

This Positive Mitzvah tells us that we must love HaShem.

Through HaShem's Torah, we can learn about His love for us.

The Torah teaches us what HaShem expects from us.

By keeping the Mitzvot, we learn to love HaShem.

Positive Mitzvah 4: Fearing G-d
Deuteronomy 6:13 "You shall fear the L-rd, your G-d"

Many people fear nuclear energy because of the damage it can cause to our environment and our health.

However, we can also benefit from nuclear energy if we use it with care.

As scientists become more and more aware of the great power of nuclear energy, they try to make use of this tremendous energy with utmost precaution and care.

HaShem is the greatest power in the world. He commanded us to observe the laws of the Torah.

The more and more we become aware of HaShem and His greatness through study of the Torah, the more we realize how important it is to fulfill His will.

This Positive Mitzvah teaches us to fear HaShem and know that if we keep the Mitzvot in the Torah, we will be rewarded.

If we choose to disobey the Mitzvot, we will be punished.

Positive Mitzvah 9: "Kiddush HaShem" - Sanctifying G-d's Name
Leviticus 22:32 "But I will be sanctified among the Children of Israel"

It was a rainy afternoon and Shelly couldn't find anything to do.

"I have an idea," her mother said. "I'll bring up some old family albums from the basement and tell you about our great grandparents."

Shelly couldn't wait to hear her mother's stories.

They sat together for hours while Shelly begged to hear more and more.

Her mother promised to continue another time, and finally, closed the album.

Shelly was fascinated by all the interesting things she had discovered and felt lucky to be part of her special family. She wished she could tell everyone how special she felt.

We have a unique Jewish heritage.

We are proud to be Jews and are commanded to make this known to others.

When a Jewish boy wears a Kippah so that everyone can see that he is Jewish; when a Jewish girl lights the Shabbat candles for all to see; when we fulfill the Mitzvot with pride and dignity - we announce to the world that we believe in HaShem and the Torah.

Even if someone tries to force us to deny HaShem and His Torah, we must remain loyal.

Over the centuries, Jews have chosen death rather than deny their bond to HaShem (see Negative Mitzvah 63).

They have banished G-d into exile. They have decreed He is too holy, too transcendent to belong in our world. They have determined He does not belong within the ordinary, in the daily run of things. And so they have driven Him out of His garden, to the realm of prayer and meditation, to the sanctuaries and the secluded places of hermits. They have sentenced the Creator to exile and His creation they have locked in a dark, cold prison. And He pleads, "Let me come back to my garden, to the place in which I found delight when it all began."

From: Bringing Heaven Down to Earth by Tzvi Freeman - tzvif@aol.com