Affinity
“and you shall love your fellow as yourself, I am Hashem.”
(Vayikra 19:18)
How can we possibly love another person as much as we love our self?
The Meshech Chochma writes that the meaning of as yourself
isn’t part of the command but rather part of the explanation of this Mitzvah.
He explains that there are two types of love. One comes from being the
recipient of good. People tend to love those that give them benefit. This is a
low type of love because it’s root is really one’s love for oneself.
A greater type of love comes from commonality. Shoemakers naturally tend to
love other shoemakers. People with similar interests are attracted to each
other.
This is the meaning of the verse: “and you shall love your fellow
as yourself.” As yourself explains why we
should love one another. We are so similar. We come from the same ancestors and
we have the same intrinsic aspirations and goals. Every Jewish soul deep down
has the same goal of serving the Almighty. When we look past the surface
differences we will see that we are really quite similar to our neighbor. That
perspective will bring love.
Thank you again Rabbi Beryl Glaser
Did you see this article about the pirates?
They are accused of firing on Saturday at the Italian cruise ship the Melody
- which had more than 1,500 passengers - in an attack repelled by Israeli
security guards.
It seems that our young men after the army are finding very lucrative jobs on
the high seas these days. Kol Ha Kavod to them. I have a personal interest in
following these pirate stories of the seas as it was about 30 odd years ago that
I was travelling in a small sailing boat in these same waters. I was a month on
board a 35 ft. state of the art catamaran, sailing down the red sea into the the
gulf of Eden opening up to the Indian Ocean. There were pirates in those days
too, Albeit, maybe 6 attacks a year. Now there could be six in a week. Gosh
I'm happy to have survived that episode!
You should have a restful healing Holy Shab bass Kodesh
Rb Yossi
Important Numbers
