parshaמפרשי הפרשה

משך חכמה — ואהבת לרעך כמוך אני ה'

What does the addition "אני ה'" specify about the mitzvah of "ואהבת לרעך כמוך"?

וזה שאמר 'ואהבת לרעך כמוך' — באיזה אופן? 'אני ה'' — כאשר אתה מצווה לאהוב השי"ת אף שאינו נראה לך, כך תאהב ותוקיר נפש ישראלי הרחוק ממך אשר לא ראית מעולם.

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משך חכמה

משך חכמה, קדושים כ״ג

Meshekh Chokhmah, Kedoshim:23

Kedoshim

Q — What does the addition "אני ה'" specify about the mitzvah of "ואהבת לרעך כמוך"?

A — A material desire depends on sight ("מה שעיניו רואות הלב חומד"), but the tzaddik's longing for Hashem is intrinsic — not based on sight ("כי לא יראני האדם וחי"), the way a date palm in Chamtan longs for its mate in Yericho without ever seeing it. "אני ה'" defines the MODE of loving one's fellow: just as you are commanded to love Hashem whom you do not see, so too you must love and esteem a Jew you have never met — because all souls are hewn from one source.

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