Community
Torah Portion
Not Live And Let Live,
But Love And Let Love
choose to ignore a person's sin, or if
you criticize him in a harsh and pub-
lic fashion, then you shall be ensnared
in the problem and shall be judged
guilty. As Abaye says in the Talmud,
"Oy for the sinner and oy for his
neighbor!" (Sukkah 56b).
It's not easy being a good neighbor.
There is an art to constructive criti-
he most famous line in this
cism and there is also a burden upon
week's Torah portion is
ourselves to be certain that our
surely "Love your neighbor
motives are pure and that our judg-
as yourself" (Leviticus
ment is well founded. As the Sefat
19:18).
Emet
observed, the critic must
Most of us understand this com-
acknowledge his portion of
mandment intuitively and
the sin as he confronts the
know, for example, that kind
sinner.
words and actions are essen-
How does this work in
tial ways of showing love to
practice?
If you see someone
people around us. Where
—
friend,
family member,
things get trickier is when we
neighbor
or
total stranger —
have a sharp disagreement
engaged
in
a
wicked prac-
with another person. What is
tice,
do
not
look
the other
the most loving way to deal
way. Nor should you vent
with this disagreement?
your anger on him. Instead,
What is better: to ignore the
RABBI DANIEL the Torah asks that we
person and the offense or to
approach the person calmly,
engage them in hopes that
NE VINS
privately
and humbly, recog-
they will change?
Specia 1 to the
nizing
our
own flaws even as
Certainly the easier course
Jewish News
we
draw
his
or her attention
of action is to ignore those
to
their
own.
with whom we disagree. It is
This is surely one of the hardest
a big world, and we're surrounded by
mitzvot in the Torah! But because this
people whom we basically ignore. In
verse directly precedes "You shall love
the anonymous society of America, it
you neighbor as yourself," we under-
is very easy to remain oblivious to
stand that the level of love demanded
those with whom we disagree. It is .
from us is both challenging and
also tempting to choose this course of
daunting. If we can enter such a dia-
action because confronting another
logue
and emerge with a resolution,
person can lead to anger and even to
then two people will have been uplift-
violence. Better to leave them be, cor-
ed and God's love will be felt in our
rect?
midst. That is what it takes to be
Tempting as this course of action
kedoshim (holy) in the eyes of the
maybe, the Torah demands that we
Holy One. ❑
act differently: "Do not hate your
brother in your heart; rather you
mast reprove him and incur no guilt
because of him" (Leviticus 19:17).
hree ideas are contained in this
You are on a playground super-
pithy verse. First, to ignore your
vising your child when another
brother as he errs would be tanta-
parent starts to scream abusively
mount to hating him. Think about it:
at his or her child. What should
If I say that so and so is beyond help,
you do? Do you have a right to
then I am not doing him any favors.
criticize their parenting? Is there
It is not a matter of "giving him
any way to avoid humiliating the
space" but writing him off. That's
parent? You have a Jewish rela-
hatred, and the Torah won't have it
tive or friend who does not
from us.
observe the rituals of Judaism the
The second idea is that even as you
way that you think is correct.
criticize, you must recall that he is
What type of dialogue is appro-
still your kinsman — that your words
priate? Is it greater love to try to
must be couched in the same way that
convince them to be like you or
you would have them said to you.
to respect their intelligence and
Finally, the third clause: "And incur
ability to choose the best path
no guilt because of him." If you
for themselves?
Daniel Nevins is a rabbi at Adat
Shalom Synagogue.
Shabbat Kedoshim:
Leviticus 19:1-20:27;
Numbers 28:9-15;
Isaiah 66:1-24.
T
• Are you battling with your
child over food?
• Is your child sneaking food?
• Is your child gaining too
much weight? ,
• Do weight problems
run in your family?
CC WM
Center
for Childhood
Weight Management
For more information about
classes and locations, call:
3 W6 tA,0 %-- 4:Xh *M-„, .n'l•
W
-L4*.e.tt tal
, •
Conversations
2545 Orchard Lake Road
Sylvan Lake, MI 48320
248-683-0450
**** *STAIRWAY LIFTS*
THE CAREFREE WAY TO
CLIMB STAIRS
When you're disabled, or just not able to move around
as freely as you once could, stairs can be a real prob-
lem. But there is a simple answer. The powered stairway
lift. Easily installed to fit curved or straight stairs. They
give you back the ability to move around your own
home. Folds back-gets in nobody's way.
CALL OR STOP BY FOR A FREE DEMONSTRATION
ACTON RENTAL & SALES
LARRY ARONOFF
* * * *
I love my
Stairway Lift!
It takes me up
and down the
stairs with the
push of a but-
ton. Call for
details!
(313) 891 -6500 (248) 540-5550