LOVING ANOTHER HUMAN BEING
March 26, 2024
ואהבת לרעך כמוך
“Love your friend like yourself”. Really? How can a person love someone else like themselves? A tall order indeed, but obviously possible, since Hashem commanded us to do so.
A prerequisite to loving a friend as yourself, is to first love yourself. Hard to share, that which you don’t have. When a Jew is at peace with himself, through the Faith and Trust he has in Hashem, he can more readily share the tranquility and happiness, that comes from such living, with another person. He has no issues, complains little, carries no grudges and pardons his grievances. No one is giving him. No one is taking from him. Whatever happens is per Hashem’s will.
Judging people favorably, is a good starting point, in practicing true love for another person. After all, they are only human beings, just like us. Who doesn’t want to be judged favorably? Who doesn’t want to be given the benefit of the doubt?
Its one thing to say I love you. It’s an entirely different thing to show it and do something about it. True love is when we can imagine ourselves being in the other persons predicament and then doing something to alleviate their hardship.
We are taught that if you see your friend’s animal sagging under a load, you are required to lend a hand and help out. Then how much more so, do we need to lend a hand to help out a fellow Jew in trouble.
One of the greatest acheivments one can accomplish in this world, is to help another Jew. When we do that, we are helping one of Hashem’s children. Hashem is deeply in love with the people that help his children out.
Since we are all children of Hashem, we are bound together as brothers and sisters, responsible for each other. If we don’t look after one another and care for each other, who else will? Only through our deep concern and caring, have we been able to navigate the exile and survive. We only have Hashem and each other. Love your fellow man like yourself, to nurture peace and harmony within your family, your community, and your world. Hashem will surely smile down upon you and shower you with His endless gifts.
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