Question: From what I understand G-d created the world and gave the Jewish people a tremendous gift- the Torah. We serve G-d, pray to Him, follow the commandments… It’s all one big great opportunity for us. G-d is infinite and doesn’t really need anything, He did it all for us. So how am I supposed to understand the idea of sometimes doing something “just for G-d.” Sometimes people say, don’t think of yourself and reward… do it all for G-d. I always tell people it’s really all for you, because G-d doesn’t need anything! Please help me clarify this point. Thank you

Answer: The way I understand it is like this:

G-d indeed created everything for us and there is nothing we can do for Him. What’s the greatest amount of pleasure Hashem can give us? Infinite pleasure. In other word, what is the greatest thing He can give us? The ability to connect to Him.

There are different approaches among the classic commentaries on how one achieves this,  but according to Maimonides there are Six Constant Commandments, which can be boiled down into one idea: Being aware of G-d all the time. The more I am aware of Hashem, the more I’m connected to G-d, and the more I’m connected to G-d, the greater my life (and my pleasure) will be.

I hope that’s helpful,
Alexander Seinfeld

PS I wrote a book on this topic called The Art of Amazement, plus a more advanced version called The Art of Kavana: A Handbook to Deveikus B’Hashem. Ask for it in your local English bookstore. There is also a Hebrew version for those who speak Ivrit.