Parashat Acharei Mot / Kedoshim

Parasha Thoughts

By Rabbi Avraham Moeinzadeh

One of the Mitzvot that is commanded to us in Parashat Kedoshim is a well known Mitzvah of Ahavat Yisrael. The phrase that the Torah uses for performing this Mitzvah is “Veahavta Lereacha Kamocha,” which is simply translated as, “Love your friend as yourself.” This provokes the obvious question amongst the Rishonim. “How can one love another person exactly the same as himself?” Secondly, it sounds even from the Gemara that one is obligated to save his own life before saving anyone else’s life. Therefore, the question arises: what is the Torah trying to tell us bringing the word “Kamocha” in the Pasuk? Why didn’t the Torah suffice with simple saying ” Veahavta Lereacha”?

The Chidah wants to suggest that perhaps we have to translate the Pasuk slightly differently. By bringing the word “Kamocha,” the Torah is trying to define for us the meaning of true Ahava. Everyone has a natural tendency to be attracted to people who are offering him things that he himself is lacking. However, to those whom he feels are not better than him in any area, he is not necessarily attracted. In this Pasuk, Hashem is coming to tell us that the Ahavah that he is expecting us to have towards a fellow Jew is the Ahavah Sheino Telooya badavar (unconditional love). According to this interpretation says chidah, the sentence “Veahavta Lereacha KaKamocha” doesn’t mean “Love your friend as you love yourself,” rather it means love even those friends that are just like yourself and nothing more.

True love doesn’t mean pursuing your own benefit, it means “Seeking to be devoted to benefit others.”

Shabbat Shalom

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