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Home -> 5756 -> Kedoshim

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum
In Kedoshim, 5756

“Love your neighbor as yourself, I am Hashem.” (19:18)

Horav Yosef Leib Bloch, zl, comments that the last two words of this pasuk, ‘s hbt, “I am Hashem,” represent more than the conclusion of the pasuk. They actually define the essence of one’s obligation to be sensitive to his friend’s needs. He cites the Talmud in Sukah 53a which quotes Hillel Ha’Zakein’s famous exclamation during the Simchas Bais Ha’Shoeivah. “itf hbt ot itf kfv,” “If I am here, then everyone is here.” This statement contradicts everything we have been taught regarding Hillel’s character. He was known to be the paradigm of humility. How could he make such a statement?…

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Home -> 5756 -> Kedoshim

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum
In Kedoshim, 5756

“Love your neighbor as yourself.” (19:18)

This comprehensive dictum of morality, the golden rule of human conduct, originated in the Torah. Chazal relate an incident between Hillel and a gentile who asked him to condense the entire Torah into its briefest possible form. Hillel answered, “What is hateful unto you, do not do unto your friend.” This statement has become the accepted interpretation of “Love your neighbor as yourself.” We may wonder why Hillel rephrased the pasuk into a negative form. Indeed, it would seem implied that Hillel focused only on negative morality – which definitely does not present a Torah perspective. Horav Yisrael Salanter, zl,…

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Home -> 5756 -> Kedoshim

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum
In Kedoshim, 5756

“Speak to the entire assembly of Bnei Yisrael and say unto them, you shall be holy, for holy am I.” (19:2)

Chazal teach us that this Torah transmission was unlike the usual procedure for Torah transmission. The standard procedure was that Moshe would teach the mitzvos first to Aharon, then Nadav and Avihu, followed by the zekeinim, elders, and finally, the entire nation. In this instance, Moshe taught the mitzvos to the entire Klal Yisrael simultaneously. The reason for this change is that these mitzvos include the essential laws of the Torah. The extreme nature of these mitzvos required that everyone be present together. The various commentators focus upon the need for the entire assembly of Klal Yisrael to convene in…

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