We are commanded to love every Jew at all times; but is this really doable and what exactly is this love that is demanded of us?
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Love is such a vague term that can have multiple meanings. The love of God for instance has nothing to do with love of self, or of other creatures. Abraham loved his nephew Lot and was willing to fight and go to war at personal risk of life, just to save him from the evil kings. Boaz loved Ruth his bride. Both Lot and Ruth where not jews yet the rightous loved them (Lot and Ruth rightous gentiles). the mitzvah of Love I think goes far beyond exclusive love for jews. In fact we are to appreciate all life forms, and view life as having sanctity. We must love every single animal as well. every high animal and low animal. Even the love of plants and abiotic ecological materials ought to be loved just because a loving G-d has given us the right to manage and use them. (not to abuse them). We ought to love gentiles too, who have rights under the eyes of their creator the G-d of the world, the very same G-d of Israel, the creator of all the creatures.
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these messages are wonderful and very illuminating. I have difficulty with the constant interruptions on the part of R. Kiegel.
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No, we are not. On the contrary, the Torah demands of us "Know the G_d of your fathers." We fulfill that mitzvah through study of selected teachings of the Kabbalah, the mainstream theology of Judaism.
For some elucidation, please see The Truth About the Baal Shem Tov. Start from the line: "Kabbalah is as central to Judaism as the sun is to the solar system"
What we are told to stay away from is philosophy, science and culture of the non-Jewish world. Today, when that has become next to impossible, there is an even greater need for every Jew to be familiar with his native theology.
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Mysticism is the pursuit of achieving communion, identity with, or conscious awareness of ultimate reality, the Other, divinity, spiritual truth, or God through direct experience, intuition, or insight.
Are we not commanded to stay away from these teachings?
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