Acharei-Kedoshim 5762 - April 19, 2002
Editor's Note:
re: 32 perspectives on love
Lots of things have been said, written, and speculated on love. Ecstatic things, desperate things, profound things, inane things. What did Jewish thinkers, artists and mystics, in the 3,300 years from Moses to our generation, say?
With so much to be said and so little that can be explained about the
subject, an anthology on love is a daunting undertaking.
But on the week on which we read from the Torah,
"Love your fellow as yourself"
(Leviticus 19:18 — regarding which the great sage Hillel said,
"This is the entire Torah; the rest is commentary"), we felt
that we had to make the attempt. So we've assembled 32 articles and stories on
love. Browse the titles, and when you feel a little tug on your heart,
click. I can't say that you'll understand what love is any better, but you might just find something nice to share with a loved one...
Thirty two articles and stories on love: filial love, romantic love, friendship, love of self, love of G-d -- so different from each other, yet somehow all the same
"I learned the meaning of love from a drunk," said Rabbi Levi Yitzchak of Berditchev. "I once passed two drunks drinking in a gutter and overheard a conversation between them..."
Just as they had celebrated their marriage with joy, Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai told the couple, so should their divorce be celebrated in joy.
When the lab technician examines a blood sample, the discovery of even .001 percent of the suspected element is very significant.
Emunah (eh-moo-na): A knowing, deep in the soul, that there is only one G-d, that He is good, and that He loves you unconditionally.
Simchah (sim-kha): A mighty current of life-energy felt when contemplating emunah.
Bitachon (bi-ta-khon): A surge of invincible confidence that emerges when emunah is challenged by circums...
