Does Love of Torah Precede Fear of Sin?

R. Chaim Sanzer visited the Apter Rav 2 times. It is said that the Apter did not hold too highly of R. Chaim. 

[Note on the margin: This story is related by Sadigora Chasidim].¹

Once the Sanzer gave a kvitl² to the Apter Rav and wrote in the kvitl that he requests [ a blessing to attain] the Love of Torah.

The Apter asked him: and [what about] Fear of Heaven?³ R. Chaim answered: “Everything is in the hands of Heaven, except for fear of Heaven” (Brachot 33b).⁴

The Apter responded: one must however want to reach that level. R’ Chaim maintained: that through Torah one attains Fear of Heaven.

The Apter asked him: this is not what it says. [The Mishna in Avot 3:9 (Ethics of the Fathers) states] “One whose fear of sin takes precedence to his wisdom, his wisdom endures. But one whose wisdom takes precedence to his fear of sin, his wisdom does not endure.”

The Apter also said: that when one drinks a glass of spirits on a sober stomach, one becomes drunk. Indeed, Sadigora Chasidim relate that in his later years, R. Chaim liked to drink.

I.F.

Pinchas Landau

1. Note the famous feud between Sanz and Sadigora Chasidism. See https://he.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D7%9E%D7%97%D7%9C%D7%95%D7%A7%D7%AA_%D7%A6%D7%90%D7%A0%D7%96%E2%80%93%D7%A1%D7%93%D7%99%D7%92%D7%95%D7%A8%D7%94
2. A petitionary note containing requests for blessings etc.

3. These two qualities are juxtaposed in Jewish texts. For example: 

   .(ברכות טז:) חיים שתהא בנו אהבת תורה ויראת שמים

4. I.e. Fear on Heaven is something that one must work on achieving through one’s own efforts. It is not predetermined from Above or something that can be granted through Divine intervention.