Based on the teachings of the Lubavitcher Rebbe
Courtesy of MeaningfulLife.com
 | Rabbi Akiva taught that "Love your fellow as yourself" is a "cardinal principle in Torah." How was it that that Rabbi Akiva's disciples, of all people, were deficient in this area?
10 Comments Posted
Thank you for the article - it's very deep and useful!
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Thank you for this piece. Please expand in more detail exactly what was lacking in the relationship between Rabbi Akiva's talmidim.
If we, today, could see more clearly, perhaps with actual examples what was lacking back then, we could more directly focus our efforts to improve.
Rabbi Akiva was so great, how could so many of his students "miss" such an essential point? You mentioned that they were on such a high level and were thus judged more strictly, but these weren't just anyone's students. These were mi'rabi akiva, mamash!
More information, references etc. would be so helpful. thank you for all your great work!!! Yasher koach!
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Thank you for your insightful article.
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A wonderful and thought provoking essay!
I am bothered by the incident in which R' Shimon and his son emerged from their hiding in a cave and became incensed at people for engaging in plowing and sowing (which, by the way is the means to producing the 'flour' that ultimately sustains the lomdei Torah), to such an extent anything or anyone upon whom they gazed with displeasure was immolated. Whereupon Hashem accused them of attempting to destroy His world and remanded them to their cave for another year. Yet did not Hashem display a similar level of lethal intolerance to the talmidei R''Akiva be exterminating them because of their lack of mutual respect?
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Very fine essay. But, for further study could anyone cite authority regarding
"car[ing] enough for our fellow man not to indulge his errors and accommodate his failings." I am struggling with this on a familial level and need guidance.
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I needed to read this today. It is hard to balance truth & love, but at some point they must be the same, but our purpose should be to "communicate with people, not control them."
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The term "derech eretz" can variously mean "way of the world" or "good manners." G-d wants even Torah scholars, and especially Torah scholars, to remember that "derech eretz goes before Torah." This is not intolerance but a basic lesson in understanding human nature: those who are strict with themselves must still be compassionate toward others. The Rebbe and his predecessors were kindly toward simple Jewish people who worked hard to earn a living, and they spent much time patiently explaining their ideology to Jews who were hostile and far removed from Chabad teachings. Also, this is a reminder that G-d is the Ultimate Judge. Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai had no right to judge G-d's creations and find them lacking; only G-d has that right. It's not "lethal intolerance" but a deep sincere belief in the utter righteousness of G-d. Despite our lack of understanding, particularly when good people die, we repeat that Gd's ways are perfect; He is the True Judge.
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Do you suppose that the date of his passing may he rest in peace speaks not only of love but of a precursor to let the love one has emanate , that would be humility. It has been an example when one described Moses, humility. Rabbi Shimon was born I believe and passed away on hod sheba hod humility of humility. It is not saying that we do not have the capacity to love another as ourselves. I believe that G-d gave us this because we are a spark of G-d. How do we uncover this so that it can radiate to others and the world . Perhaps the clue is on the very day of Rabbi Shimon's passing may he rest in peace. To be able to be humble takes Torah study and daily work not from a place we have decided to perceive from but rather the place that G-d has told us is Truth., Torah.
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I am grateful to have read this article today. In my marriage I have continually felt that though my husband says he loves me, he does not respect my right to serve G-d as I see fit - with happiness! It's reassuring to read that true love allows room for the other person to be different.
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the 23,999 fellows are religions in the world. Everybody wants to be right in what they believe. God revealed himself to the world and everybody took his/her own interpretation. That is why we don't respect each other.
We must come out of the cave and realize that tolerance for others is not real love. We must learn to truly love one another.
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