GATHER THE PEOPLE (GTP) Talmud Torah: Love Your Neighbor

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GTP Talmud Torah

LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF

"You shall not hate your brother in your heart; you shall surely rebuke your neighbor, and [you shall] not bear sin because of him. You shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the children of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself; I am the Lord." (Leviticus 19:17-18)

Commentary

We know from Rabbi Akiva, "This is a fundamental principle in the Torah."

"Rabbi [Judah haNasi] says: Which is a right way that a person should choose? Let one love reproof, since as long as there is reproof in the world, good and blessing come to the world, and evil departs from the world, as it says: But to them that are reproved shall come delight; and a good blessing shall come upon them." (Tamid 28a)

Within congregational community organizing, we use the word "challenge" in a way that parallels rebuke or reproof, as the means to go from days of trouble to days of mashiach.

Questions

What do the verses say about the relationship of challenge to chesed (lovingkindness)?
Why might "ease of mind" come to the world with challenge?
What does it mean practically to love your neighbor as yourself?

Click on the mailbox and tell us what you think!

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