This week’s Torah portion, Acharei Mos-Kedoshim, states one of the most famous commandments in the Torah “Love your friend as much as you would love yourself.”
The Talmud (Shabbos 31a) relates a fascinating incident about this commandment: A non-Jew approached Shammai, one of the great Talmudic sages with an unusual request: “I would like to convert to Judaism if you can teach me the entire Torah while I balance myself on one foot.” Shammai sent him away. He can’t be serious, he reasoned, for it’s quite impossible to learn all the complexities of Judaic law while standing in such a haphazard position!
This same non-Jew then went to Hillel, another great Talmudic sage,, with the same question. This time, though, he received a response. Hillel answered, “The entire Torah is based upon the following principle: Don’t do to others what you would not like to happen to yourself. The rest of the Torah is merely explanations of this principle.” The non-Jew accepted this answer and Hillel converted him to Judaism.
The non-Jew’s question was quite bizarre, yet Hillel’s reply is puzzling as well. Hillel’s answer is just one the 613 mitzvos in the Torah, so why did Hillel highlight this commandment as the bedrock of Judaism? This is one of the more easier commandments to comprehend, for any sensitive-minded person realizes its importance!
Perhaps we should take a deeper look at the commandment of “Love your fellow man” which will, in turn, help us understand Hillel’s message to the would-be convert.
The simple explanation of “Love your neighbor” is that one should love his fellow man as much as he loves himself. That is quite impossible to do, though, for self-love is one of the strongest emotions within a person. We cannot love another person as much as we love ourselves. Rather, the Rabbis explain, the commandment requires that whatever a person wants for himself he should wish his fellow man should have it as well. If one wants a healthy life, happy marriage and a fulfilling career, he should wish his friend should live with these qualities as well. He should feel happy for his friend when he achieves these accomplishments as if he himself attained them-even if he presently does not have them himself. His love for his fellow man rises above his own lot in life so he can feel truly happy for his friend even though he himself has not yet attained that level of happiness.
Each person has a distinct, unique qualities and capabilities given to him by the Creator to achieve his special mission in life. One who is wealthy is thus given lots of money to help him in fulfilling his spiritual mission in life. One who doesn’t possess wealth is given other strengths to attain his unique level of spiritual perfection. When one learns to appreciate every person independent of what they possess as it relates to his standing in life, and is able to rise above the petty jealousy, hate and anger most people feel toward those who are better off than them, he is thus expressing his appreciation to the Creator for the unique qualities He has given him, independent of everyone else. He realizes his special role he performs and thus can hope others reach that same level of perfection he himself wishes to attain.
Hillel, therefore, highlighted this commandment to the convert for it strikes at the core of our existence in life. When one loves his fellow man to this extent, he is in tune with his own true potential and can strive to do his very best to accomplish his goal.
How fortunate are those who live with this ideal at all times. They are liberated from comparing themselves to others, and the emotional turmoil it brings upon a person and diminish his enthusiasm for life. They can focus all their energies on fulfilling their unique mission in life, through loving their fellow man. Let us incorporate this ideal within us so we too can “Love our fellow man” through which we will be able to lead truly happy, spiritually fulfilling lives.