Machshava:

Chassidut 

Collections: Rabbi Weinberger: Bilvavi II

Description

Yiras ha'onesh (fear of divine retribution) might not be the highest ideal, but only it works under all conditions. Chassidic seforim are filled with mussar of yiras ha'onesh. Emphasizing yiras ha'onesh to the exclusion of everything does not help us progress. Rav Yechezkel Levenstein zt”l taught how to reach closeness to Hashem through yiras ha'onesh. If we fear gehinom (hell) as a separate entity, then we are separate from Hashem. We should have an inner recognition that Hashem punishes us because He adores us.