There is a famous story that we said over many times, and is always worthy of review. A Chasid came to the Ohev Yisrael, who was known to show how each Parsha speaks about Ahavas Yisrael. The חסיד thought that in Parshas Balak there is nothing about this subject. The Rebbe thought for a few moments and answered Balak is rashai taivos ואהבת לרעך כמוך. It didn’t take too long for the Chasid to ask “But it’s not a vav it’s a bais, and it’s not a chof, it’s a kuf” and the Rebbe answered “If you’re going to be so medakdek, you need more ahavas Yisrael.”
I would like to this year to go a little deeper into the Rebbe’s answer. When it comes to ahavas Yisrael, a definition is a must. Many times we do things out of habit and without clarity as to what the command or concept really means. So when we speak about ahavas Yisrael or ahavas chinam or any ahava, we need a definition. Ahava, as the Rambam explains, is the pleasure one experiences when focusing on one’s virtues. Or in the words of Rav Nachman zt”l, nekuda tova. Identifying and enjoying someone by their good character traits is the definition of love.
Shlomo Hamelech says in Mishlei 21 טוב עין הוא יבורך. The Zohar explains that one who has a good eye is the one that should lead the benching, and because of his good eye and appreciative eye he will enjoy more blessing.
As we approach the three weeks, a period that leads up to the destruction of the Bais Hamikdash which was caused by the opposite of ahavas Yisrael, this is the perfect time to redefine for ourselves and internalize this concept.
May it be in the zchus of our resolve for more Ahavas Yisrael that we should be zoche to see the days of Shiva Asar B’Tamuz and Tisha B’Av turn into yomim tovim.
by Rabbi Daniel Coren
