Love Beyond Grudges: Living the Mitzvah of Love Your Neighbor

Love Beyond Grudges: Living the Mitzvah of Love Your Neighbor

May 9, 2025 By Jonah Guthartz | Aharei Mot | Kedoshim

Parashat Kedoshim begins by laying out dozens of mitzvot, including the prohibition against idolatry and the mitzvot of charity, Shabbat, honesty in business, honoring one’s parents, and the sanctity of life. Perhaps the best- known mitzvah is לֹֽא־תִקֹּ֤ם וְלֹֽא־תִטֹּר֙ אֶת־בְּנֵ֣י עַמֶּ֔ךָ וְאָֽהַבְתָּ֥ לְרֵעֲךָ֖ כָּמ֑וֹךָ אֲנִ֖י יְ-הֹוָֽה׃ (Lev. 19:19) “You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against members of your people. Love your fellow [Israelite] as yourself: I am the Lord” Rabbi Akiva famously names this as a fundamental value of the Torah (Sifra, Kedoshim 4:12).

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