10 May Kedoshim; Loving Your Fellow… and the Convert

Inspired by the teachings of Rav Yitzchak Ginsburg and Rabbi Moshe Genuth

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 sensitivity. Few know how, accordingly many Rabbis warn against giving rebuke 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 convert.

R Steinsaltz had a student, a former Nun who was converting to Judaism.         

Her intent to convert was sincere. Her knowledge of Judaism was excellent, however R Steinsaltz was concerned that her connection to Judaism was perhaps connected more to the intellectual aspects of Judaism.   

The woman was very close to completing her conversion by going to the mikvah. The Rav had spoken to hear and asked that before she goes to the mikvah she seek him out. 

That day he met with her and took her to a highly religious part of Isreal. There were many beggars on the street. He introduced the ger candidate to the beggers. They knew the Rav by name and the Rav knew their names too.       

The point was that when a person is a Jew, or chooses to become a Jew, we must know that we are a Nation as a family  that includes  its abundance, its hardships and blemishes…. and have an oblagation to love everyone.   

Leib Getzel (Lawrence) Lax
Addictions and Counseling
http://lawrencelax.com
lawrencejlax@gmail.com