Day 31: אוֹהֵב אֶת הַבְּרִיּוֹת / Loving other people
Having established the values of love of self and love of God, we close the loop by extending the inalienable right of love to all people. The arc of the past few days asserts that the former two loves will naturally overflow into love of the Other, owing to our shared humanity as well as our shared divinity.
Pirkei Avot offers the real power of loving others: "Hillel used to say: be of the disciples of Aaron, loving peace and pursuing peace, loving other people and bringing them close to the Torah" (Pirkei Avot 1:12). Notice the progression. Real peace comes from and leads to a deep love of others. From that place of love, both parties land in the depths of Torah, and can learn and grow together.
On an earlier day, we established the wisdom that emerges from discussions with our colleagues and with our students, and today we learn that the genesis of those fruitful relationships begins with peace and love.
Reflection:
Jewish tradition, especially the Talmud, is filled with stories of arguments and debates. Must we LOVE our interlocutors and peers?
Is there anyone who doesn't deserve love?
Lived practice:
There are many ways to demonstrate love. Forgive those towards whom you are holding onto anger. Give without expecting anything in return. Actively listen with your full attention. Offer positive feedback in the form of "I appreciate when you ___ because it makes me feel ___".
