Unconditional Love

Someone once asked my father-in-law, the Rebbe: “Jewish Law describes certain types of Jews that one should shun. Why, then, do you treat all Jews equaly with love?”

The Rebbe answered: “The laws you refer to appear all the way at the end of the Code of Jewish Law. Once you’ve learned all the rest of Jewish law in order, and you fulfill it all perfectly, perhaps then it will be time for you to concern yourself with such matters… But to start from the end – such an approach cannot come from a place of holiness.”

If you treat someone negatively and you use Torah as an excuse, there is always the doubt that perhaps you made a mistake in your assessment or that personal factors were involved. Whereas if you do a favor for a fellow Jew – it’s off your shoulders: you’ve certainly performed an act of brotherly love, and you’ve fulfilled the commandment to “Love your fellow as yourself,” which is a vehicle to also attain love of G-d.