In the previous post we explained that Yaakov, who embodies balance could only come into the world after there was a mutual dynamic of influence between Avraham and Yitzchak. Avraham's love needed to be able to lead to fear, and Yitzchak's innate fear had to find a niche in a backdrop of love as well. The lesson of all this being that we need to find balance in our own Avodas Hashem and hyper-focusing on one mode of service is bound collapse.
Based on this we can understand a cryptic statement of the Zohar that says that Ahavah and Yirah are the wings of Mitzvos.
The Tanya explains this profound concept as follows: A bird is healthy without its wings. It can survive just fine. But it cannot fly, and a flightless bird can hardly be called a bird at all. It is lacking its very essence. Mitzvos can be executed to the utmost Halachic exactitude without a drop of feeling - and the deed will have been done. But a Mitzvah that doesn't strengthen my relationship with the Divine is empty at its core.
But it doesn't end there. For just as a bird needs two wings to soar, so to the elevation of a Mitzvah depends on the utilization of its wings, namely Ahavah and Yirah. With only wing, one can only stay airborne for so long until the inevitable crash comes. So too in our carrying out of Mitzvos must we always be mindful of out intentions.
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