Love Your Neighbor As Yourself/2

Love Your Neighbor As Yourself

Exegetical Approaches

This topic has not yet undergone editorial review

Actions

Loving another as one's self entails treating the other as we would want to be treated.

Sources:R. Yosef Bekhor ShorVayikra 19:18About R. Yosef Bekhor Shor, RambamHilkhot Eivel 14:1About R. Moshe b. Maimon, Sefer HaChinukh243About Sefer HaChinukh, RalbagVayikra 19:18About R. Levi b. Gershom, HaKetav VeHaKabbalahVayikra 19:18About R. Yaakov Mecklenburg, R. D"Z HoffmannVayikra 19:18About R. David Zvi Hoffmann

"ואהבת את רעך" vs. "אָהַבְתָּ לְרֵעֲךָ" – R. D"Z Hoffmann asserts that the difference between these formulations relates to the nature of the love being commanded.  The "לְ" connotes love which is expressed through actions rather than emotions, as it something you do "to" the other.

Can you command an emotion?

Generosity of Spirit

The verse commands that we should want for the other what we would want for ourselves.

Sources:Ibn EzraVayikra 19:18About R. Avraham ibn Ezra, RambanVayikra 19:18About R. Moshe b. Nachman

Love

The law demands that one should feel love for one's neighbor, just as one does for one's self.

Sources:Moses Mendelssohn

Can you command an emotion

"לְרֵעֲךָ" – who is included?

"כָּמוֹךָ"

"ואהבת  את רעך" vs. "אָהַבְתָּ לְרֵעֲךָ"

Context

Comparable verses