חינוך קטן

It is well-known that fear (awe) and love are the roots and foundations of the service of G–d.5Cf. Commentary on Maimonides’ Hilchot Yesodei HaTorah 2:10; Reishit Chochmah, beg. of Shaar HaAhavah; Rabbi Schneur Zalman, Shulchan Aruch, Hilchot Talmud Torah 4:6. Fear is the root and basis of “Turn away from evil,”6Psalms 34:15; i.e., the fulfillment of the negative injunctions. and love—of “and do good”7Ibid. and the observance of all the positive commandments of the Torah and the Rabbis, as will be explained in their proper place.8Likkutei Amarim, Part I, chs. 4, 41. Originally, Rabbi Schneur Zalman intended to arrange Shaar Hayichud VehaEmunah before the first part of Likkutei Amarim; hence the future tense. See Hearot V’Tikkunim (below, p. 792). (The commandment of educating a child includes also [training in the performance of] the positive precepts,9I.e., in addition to the negative precepts. Therefore we are to educate a child in the fear and love of G–d which will be the inspiration for the performance of all the commandments. as is stated in Orach Chaim, section 343.10See Commentators ad locum and Rabbi Schneur Zalman, Shulchan Aruch, Orach Chaim 343:2-3.)