Ahavat Yisrael

March 14, 2020 at 10:33 PM
Rianne asked 4 years ago
Shalom, Rabbi Anava spoke in the purim video and corona about ahavat yisrael, I would like to know more about that subject. what does ahavat yisrael practically mean? If my jewish brother/sister is liberal or karaite, or even messianic jewish or secular they all have different vision on tenach or talmud, what does it mean than to love? I have heard story’s that people even abandon there children because of different opinions What does it mean not to judge the other? Practically? Because I think that happens a lot from liberal to orthodox and orthodox to liberal, actually everyone has opinions about others, and in this time with social media people think they can say anything... how can you see someone is sincerely in what he believes? How do we know what is really ‘emet’ or will that only be revealed when mashiach comes? Rianne Levi
Rabbi Rom Leibner replied 4 years ago

Hi Rianne,

this is Rabbi Rom from the Atzmut team.
To answer your question, I would reccomend learning Chapter 32 in Tanya, here is a link in English
https://www.chabad.org/library/tanya/tanya_cdo/aid/7911/jewish/Chapter-32.htm

It explains that you must love the good in your fellow Jew and hate the bad. It doesnt mean that you hate the person, it means you dont like/agree with the bad that is in them.

With regards to rebuking others, you must be very careful, as only if you know forsure they will accept what you are saying then you cannot say it. If you know they will reject it, then the best approach is with love and kindness, bearing in mind that you must be still strong in your beliefs and dont be influenced by what is not 100% true,

All the best,