Ahava rabbah (Hebrew: אהבה רבה, [with an] abundant love, also Ahavah raba and other variant English spellings) is the name given in Ashkenazi Jewish custom to the blessing recited immediately before the Shema as part of the Shacharit (morning) prayer.
[4]: 419–20 It thanks God for the gift of the Torah, which provides life,[5]: 92 and for making the Jewish people the chosen nation.
Our Parent our Sovereign – for the sake of our fathers who trusted in You and You taught them the laws of life; so [too] grace us and teach us.
And bring us in peace from the four corners of the Earth, and lead us erectly to our Land; as You are God who performs salvations.
And You have chosen us with all nations and languages, and have brought us close to Your great name forever in truth, to praise You and unify You with love.
Blessed are You, Lord, who chooses His people, Israel, with love.In Nusach Ashkenaz, Ahava rabbah is recited during Shacharit, and Ahavat Olam during Maariv.
[7] As a compromise, Ahava Rabbah (being the longer of the two) is recited in the morning, and Ahavat Olam in the evening.
[4]: 412–13 In the Sephardic rite, as well and many Nusach Sefard communities, Ahavat Olam is recited in both the morning and the evening.
However, the recitation of the Shema does not meet the requirement for learning after reciting the blessing on Torah study, even though it is composed of verses from the Torah,[9] and one must learn something immediately following prayers in order for Ahava Rabbah to work in this capacity.
Most notable are the ahavah piyyutim recited in the Eastern Ashkenazic rite on the sabbaths between Passover and Shavuot - these poems include a dialogue between the Jewish people and God, where the Jewish people complain that the persecution has become so difficult and ask for redemption and God comforts them.