And You Shall Love Your Neighbor As Yourself
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Camp Ramot Amoona 2009

Emily Kaiman, MAEd

Leviticus 19:33-34
וְכִי יָגוּר אִתְּךָ גֵּר בְּאַרְצְכֶם לֹא תוֹנוּ אֹתוֹ: כְּאֶזְרָח מִכֶּם יִהְיֶה לָכֶם הַגֵּר הַגָּר אִתְּכֶם וְאָהַבְתָּ לוֹ כָּמוֹךָ כִּי גֵרִים הֱיִיתֶם בְּאֶרֶץ מִצְרָיִם אֲנִי ה' אֱלֹהֵיכֶם:
Leviticus.19.33-34
When a stranger resides with you in your land, you shall not wrong him. The stranger who resides with you shall be to you as one of your citizens; you shall love him as yourself, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt: I the LORD am your God. [JPS translation]
Discussion Questions

1. Who are the players in this text – seen and unseen?


2. What does it mean to you to "love your neighbor as yourself"?

3. Why do you think the text connects the idea of loving your neighbor, to the experience of being a stranger in the land of Egypt?

Genesis Rabbah 24:7
בן עזאי אומר זה ספר תולדות אדם זה כלל גדול בתורה, ר"ע אומר (ויקרא יט) ואהבת לרעך כמוך, זה כלל גדול בתורה, שלא תאמר הואיל ונתבזיתי יתבזה חבירי עמי הואיל ונתקללתי יתקלל חבירי עמי, א"ר תנחומא אם עשית כן דע למי אתה מבזה, בדמות אלהים עשה אותו.
Bereishit_Rabbah.24.7
Ben ‘Azzai said: “'This is the book of the descendants of Adam' is a great principle of the Torah.” R. Akiva said: "'Love your neighbor as yourself' (Leviticus 19:18) is a great principle, so that you must not say, "Since I have been put to shame, let my neighbor be put to shame, since I have been cursed, let my neighbor be cursed." R. Tanhuma said: "If you do so, know whom you put to shame, for 'In the image of God did God make him'" (Genesis 5:1). [AJWS translation]
Discussion Questions

1. According to Rabbi Akiva, what is the greatest principle in the Torah?

2. When we curse our neighbor, who else are we also cursing? Why?

3. In your opinion, what does "loving your neighbor" have to do with being created "in the image of God"


4. This text has powerful implication on how we relate to those around us. What are some ways we can implement this thinking into our daily lives?