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A common misconception is that holiness and spirituality are based upon emotion. If a person feels a connection to God, then it must be so. If a person closes his eyes, meditates, and thinks spiritual thoughts, then he must be having a spiritual experience.

In truth, the individual is simply fooling himself.

As Rabeinu Bechaya (14th century) explains King Solomon's Proverbs (971 BCE-931 BCE; 15:16), "It is best to have a little fear of God than an abundance (of fear) and turmoil." Rabeinu Bechaya interprets the verse to mean "a little fear of God," rooted in reason, is better than "abundance" of fear based upon emotion that causes inner turmoil (Introduction: Pekudei).

The human soul is constantly striving to reach new spiritual heights. However, the physical body is lazy. Achieving true spirituality is hard work. So, a person's evil inclination convinces him that he doesn't need to work to achieve spirituality; that feeling spiritual is being spiritual. He is persuaded that when one feels as if he is connecting to God, that feeling must be authentic. After all, what is spirituality but an emotion?

And it's exactly this standpoint that King Solomon feared. Hence his warning in Proverbs: "It is best to have a little fear of God...."

How, then, does one achieve true spirituality? The only way is to accept the "yoke of the kingdom of heaven." A person must subject himself to the will of God. And, the only way to learn the will of God is through Torah study because everything that God desires from us is in the Torah. It would be wholly illogical to think that God desires something from us but chose to not put it in the Torah or that it is in the Torah, but has been concealed from our greatest Torah luminaries.

Yet, even here there is a trap. Remember, the body is lazy. Torah study is exhausting. So there is a strong temptation to leap into the most complex and esoteric areas of Torah mysticism without having first developed a strong foundation. People are drawn to Kabbalah (Jewish mysticism) and the Messianic Era. They seek a "kosher" mystical experience or revelation.

Once again, we need to remember King Shlomo's warning, "It is best to have a little fear of God...."

If a person truly wishes to reach spiritual heights, he can only do so by subjecting himself to God's will. And the only way to learn God's will is through Torah study. By pretending otherwise or seeking illusory shortcuts, a person only robs himself of the opportunity to grow spiritually.

Studying aspects of the Torah that are above and beyond a person's ability to understand will only cause inner turmoil and distract a person from truly delving into the Torah. His fear of God will be rooted in emotion and his spiritual growth will be stymied.

Parshat Vayikra begins with sacrificial offerings brought as gifts to God. The word "sacrifice" in the Torah is called a "korban". The definition of "korban" in Hebrew means to come closer. In the time of the Temple, one of the ways individuals came close to God was through the "sacrifices"; expending his own effort and possessions. Now, we can only sacrifice through time, energy, and effort in Torah Study and keeping the mitzvot.

As the Sforno (1475-1550; Leviticus 1:2) explains, God only desires sacrifices that were accompanied by humility; through the understanding of the integral purpose of the korban, to become spiritually close to God. God desires our humility, which we achieve by expending time and effort delving into Torah study, becoming close to Him, and not seeking short-cuts to spirituality.

Rabbi Chaim Lobel is spiritual leader of Young Israel of Aberdeen.
www.yiaberdeen.com