05 May Parshas Kedoshim 19: Love Your Neighbour

Baseless Hatred, Loshen Hora and The Omer as it affects friends, family, social media,  destroying  harmony and unity,  and causing divisiveness…

The Torah;
Kedoshim 19;16 You shall not go around as a gossipmonger amidst your people. You shall not stand by [the shedding of] your fellow’s blood. I am Hashem.
A persons physical or spiritual blood  are considered his life force. We must not stand by and do nothing where someone is being physically, spiritually  or emotionally oppressed.

17 You shall not hate your brother in your heart. You shall surely rebuke your fellow, but you shall not bear a sin on his account.
Rebuke requires great sensitivy. Few know how, accordingly many Rabbis warn against giving rebvke as There is a great risk of  sin and ‘damage’ if rebuke  is given incorrectly.

18 You shall neither take revenge from nor bear a grudge against the members of your people; you shall love your neighbor as yourself. I am Hashem.
Each Jewish soul  is a part of Hashem. We can then understand love of others ‘is’ love of self. The Nation of Israel is the greater collective soul of the souls of the Jewish Nation which is dependant on the Unity of its collective ‘individual’ souls.   

The first 33 Days of the Omer is a period of mourning (until Lag B’omer) for the loss of the 24,000 lives of the students of Rabbi Akiva who died as a result of a plague due to the baseless hatred through their Loshen Hora; derogatory speech as the lack of consideration and respect toward each other.

In brief, acts of Sinat Chinam (baseless hatred), are negatively impacting acts that cause harm to others, and in doing so to ones self. They are typically acts of Loshen Hora (derogatory speech) which are considered to be ‘spiritual murder aka  murder of the soul’.

It is important that we learn how to stand up for ourselves in a righteous way  according to G-ds Will,
and we need to stand up for each other in a righteous way…  as this too is G-ds Will.   This is a principle of unity.

It should be noted that a coveted principle of the 12 Step programs of Recovery (AA) is anonymity which reflects the principles of Loshen Hora’. There is a slogan  of anonymity and confidentiality said  at their meetings; ‘Who we see here, what we say here, let it stay here’.  The environment of  recovery is most sensitive and the prinicples of discretion as they are found rooted in Jewish Law are imperitive.

Shimon HaTzadik (the Righteous) was accustomed to say:
The world is based on three things – on the Torah, on the Service of God, and upon acts of Loving-Kindness.
(Pirkei Avot 1:2)   

Rabbi Akiva taught:
‘Love your neighbor as yourself’ (Leviticus 19:18). This is the most important rule in the Torah.
(Jerusalem Talmud Nedarim 30b)   

A much recommended sefer on Laws of speech is the very popular (english) sefer ; Guard Your Tongue – Chofetz Chaim – Pliskin

Leib Getzel (Lawrence) Lax
Addictions and Counseling
lawrencelax.com
lawrenceJlax@gmail.com