ALL ABOUT THE
LOVE
Love your fellow Jew
LOVE YOUR FELLOW:
The principle of "love your fellow as yourself," as stated by the great Jewish sage Rabbi Akiva, is a foundational concept in Judaism. It is based on the biblical commandment "love your neighbor as yourself" (Leviticus 19:18) and is seen as a cornerstone of Jewish ethics and values.
According to this principle, every Jew is required to treat others with love, respect, and concern, and to act with compassion and kindness towards their fellow Jews. This includes reaching out to others with patience, understanding, and unity, and working to create a sense of community and connection.
In the Chabad-Lubavitch movement, the Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson, emphasized the importance of "love your fellow as yourself" and encouraged Jews to act with kindness and compassion towards their fellow Jews. The Rebbe encouraged Jews to reach out to others with patience, love, concern, and unity, and to work towards creating a sense of community and connection.
Overall, the principle of "love your fellow as yourself" is a foundational concept in Judaism that is based on the biblical commandment "love your neighbor as yourself." It requires Jews to treat others with love, respect, and concern, and to act with compassion and kindness towards their fellow Jews. It is an important way to create a sense of community and connection and to fulfill the biblical commandment to "love your neighbor as yourself."
Rabbi Akiva (one of the great sages of the Talmud) explained that love of a fellow Jew is “one of the leading principles of the Torah”. A campaign for Ahavat Yisrael means that we make an effort that our thought, speech and actions be permeated with a real concern and sensitivity for the wellbeing of our fellow Jews. The Baal Shem Tov taught that one should have Ahavat Yisrael even for a Jew one has never seen in one’s life. The rationale behind this is explained in Ch.32 of Tanya (See the book To Love a Fellow Jew – SIE Publications).
Think you’re going this alone? No way. We’re all tied together. We’ve been traveling down this road arm-in-arm for almost 4,000 years.
All of humanity is tied together, branched out in families. If you’re Jewish, you’re part of an amazing family that shares a common heritage, history and distinct way of looking at the world.
Being connected lies at the heart of all this higher life strategy. It’s the turbine and the magnet. Call it bonding with your people. Or just community.
Here’s how to get started:
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Drop in to some place where Jews hang out. Like a JCC. Or a Chabad-Lubavitch center. Or the local kosher bakery. Talk to your people. Bond with your people. Play squash with your people.
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Volunteer. Every Jew’s got to be volunteered for something. Like making deliveries for the Kosher Food Bank. Or being a buddy for a special child through The Friendship Circle. Or being the official candyman in synagogue. Ask around—there’s sure to be some community role waiting for you.
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Do Shabbat with people. Invite guests. Get invited as a guest. Eat together. Sing Jewish songs together. Tell stories together. Stay up late and fall asleep at the table together.
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Talk good things about people—especially your fellow Jews. When you find something nice to say, you bring out all the goodness in those people and let it shine. All the negativity fades away.
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Find out what other people need. Listen to them kvetch. Find jobs for them. Have them in mind in your prayers. Call them up if you don’t see them around for a while. Visit them when they’re hospitalized. Be concerned—and do something about it.
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Smile. Say “Nice to see you today.” How about, “You’re looking great today!” Doesn’t cost much, but you could make someone’s day.
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Call your mother. Your dad too. How much quality time have you spent with the kids lately? How about your spouse? Hey, they’re Jewish, too. Hold on—so are you! So be proud of it and bond with your Jewish soul. Look, you gotta start somewhere.