1. Loving Your Fellow

Dedicated by Fran Broder as a zechus for the hostages to be released safely to their families and may everlasting peace come to Eretz Yisrael in the merit of learning Hilchot Bein Adam L’Chaveiro

1.    The Torah requires one to love other Jews as one loves oneself (Vayikra 19:18). Many commentaries explain the mitzvah as performing actions to help others in the same manner that one would expect others to help oneself (Chizkuni; Rambam, Hilchot Avel 14:20). Others explain that one should also desire in one’s mind what is best for one’s fellow (Ramban, Seforno). According to this, one should desire the success of others to the same extent that one desire’s one’s own success (Sefer Le’reiacha Kamocha, vol.2, ch.4). One should try to fulfill both interpretations (Sefer Halichot Bein Adam L’chaveiro, ch.1).

2.        The mitzvah of loving other Jews involves two components: 1) A positive component to help others. One who performs acts of chesed for other Jews fulfills this aspect of the mitzvah (Rambam, ibid.), as does one who complies with the mitzvah as described in the first halacha. One who works in a profession that includes assisting others in any way can fulfill the mitzvah merely by having in mind to fulfill it or by performing additional acts of assistance for which he or she is not paid (Sefer L’reiacha Kamocha, vol.2, ch.1). 2) A negative component to avoid doing something to another that one would not want done to oneself. One who does something of this nature has been “mevatel” (abolished) the mitzvah (Sefer Le’reiacha Kamocha, vol.2, ch.1, based on the Gemara, Shabbat 31a).