Hillel, when approached by the person who wished to convert, on condition that Hillel teach him Torah on 1 foot - responded that the Torah can be summarized by learning from the mitzvah of Vihavta Lireacha Kamocha, Love your fellow person as you love yourself.
Let's take a look at the nature of the Mitzvah, and hopefully, we'll come up with a notion as to where Hillel was directing the convert.
Let's take a look at the nature of the Mitzvah, and hopefully, we'll come up with a notion as to where Hillel was directing the convert.
Rav E. Dessler [Volume III, page 89] quotes 2 sources that aid us in understanding how one is supposed to love other people as much as we love ourselves.
Ramban:
People tend to attempt to express their individuality. Often, we like to think of the positive aspects of ourselves that make us unique. If this uniqueness were truly manifested by myself, and if this is some expression of a positive trait, it would be incorrect of me to want this to be unique. I wish that all my friends and acquaintances, that all people, merited this positive trait. What do I lack if my friends share my good fortune with me? It is only our imagination that is truly satisfied when we 1-Up other people. Loving others as we love ourselves requires us to wish our good fortune, in all areas, on our friends as well.
There is another source though that expresses the positive way of looking at this Mitzvah:
Yerushalmi [Nedarim 9,4]:
If I were cutting some vegatables in the kitchen and my right hand accidentally cut my left hand. It would be ludicrous to suggest that my left hand take revenge upon my right. Similarly, when we view Kllal Yisroel as one organism. One entity. One unity.
It would be inappropriate to ever wish my left hand misfortune, or better stated, I wish that the other parts of my body be as successful, happy and complete as the rest of me.
It would be inappropriate to ever wish my left hand misfortune, or better stated, I wish that the other parts of my body be as successful, happy and complete as the rest of me.
In light of the upcoming holiday of Shavuot....
R' Chaim Shmueleveitz [based on Sforno] points out that Vayichan sham Yisroel, Ki'ish Echad biLev Echad [And the people camped there - as 1 person with 1 heart:
They helped each other set up camp. This was how their unity manifested itself. People were concerned about others as much as they were concerned about themselves.
This is a prerequisite for receiving the Torah. Seeing the Jewish people as 1 organism. Being concerned for others as we are concerned with ourselves.
True Love.
R' Chaim Shmueleveitz [based on Sforno] points out that Vayichan sham Yisroel, Ki'ish Echad biLev Echad [And the people camped there - as 1 person with 1 heart:
They helped each other set up camp. This was how their unity manifested itself. People were concerned about others as much as they were concerned about themselves.
This is a prerequisite for receiving the Torah. Seeing the Jewish people as 1 organism. Being concerned for others as we are concerned with ourselves.
True Love.
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