In Parashat Shofetim, there is a connection drawn between learning Torah and Yirat Shamayim, (fearing Hashem).  How are they connected?

When HKBH gave the Torah, He didn’t just give us the opportunity for intellectual pursuit; He gave us Himself.

This is illustrated by the first word He used when giving the Ten Commandments: Anochi.

Anochi is an acronym for Ana Nafshi Ketovit Yehovit.

I Myself wrote [these words and] gave [them to you].

I gave Myself.

When we study the Torah, we study the word of HKBH, we study Hashem Himself, and thereby we connect to Him and become close to Him.

Fearing Hashem, as the Ramchal explains, is not merely fearing the consequences of something that we do wrong. Rather, it defines our connection to HKBH.

Everything we do is accompanied by the hope that it will be successful. When we place our hope in HKBH we connect to Him through aspiration, joy, and awe.

This brings true Yirat Shamayim.