(יז) לֹֽא־תִשְׂנָ֥א אֶת־אָחִ֖יךָ בִּלְבָבֶ֑ךָ ... (יח) לֹֽא־תִקֹּ֤ם וְלֹֽא־תִטֹּר֙ אֶת־בְּנֵ֣י עַמֶּ֔ךָ וְאָֽהַבְתָּ֥ לְרֵעֲךָ֖ כָּמ֑וֹךָ אֲנִ֖י יְהוָֽה׃
(17) You shall not hate anyone in your heart. (18) You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against anyone. Love your fellow as yourself: I am G-d.
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Why would the Torah think to make these laws?
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What is the major lesson of this text?
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What issues/challenges come up for you with this text?
(ב) שִׁמְעוֹן הַצַּדִּיק הָיָה מִשְּׁיָרֵי כְנֶסֶת הַגְּדוֹלָה. הוּא הָיָה אוֹמֵר, עַל שְׁלשָׁה דְבָרִים הָעוֹלָם עוֹמֵד, עַל הַתּוֹרָה וְעַל הָעֲבוֹדָה וְעַל גְּמִילוּת חֲסָדִים:
(2) Shimon the Righteous was one of the last of the men of the great assembly. He used to say: the world stands upon three things: the Torah, on Divine work and on acts of (loving)kindness.
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How important is lovingkindness in the world, according to this passage? Do you agree? Why/Why not?
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This is a foundational idea for Jewish life. How does this show up in your life?
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Note: Torah is about values, law & order, and justice
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3. “The giving is the tzedakah (charity) but the effort [of giving] is the chesed (kindness).” - Rashi on Sukkah 49b
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Does this shift/change/broaden your understanding of kindness? How so?
4. “Always look for the good in the other.” - Reb Nachman
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Does this come easy or hard for you to do?
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Why might this be an important value to practice? How can we encourage this in our school?