The Ramban writes (Vayikra [Levit. 19:17]) that the mitzvah to love one's fellow as oneself is not meant to be taken literally. Rather, one must direct love towards his fellow, desiring his benefit, just as one desires good for oneself. One may still want more for oneself, but the Torah commands a person to drive jealousy out of his heart.

The one who exemplifies such an attitude is Yonason, the son of King Shaul. His love for Dovid was so great that he successfully banished the trait of jealousy from his heart, and wished Dovid to rule.

One will actually do more for himself than for another person, but the mitzva is to desire good for other people, just as one desires good for himself.

Hashem's Love

Rav Simcha Zissel of Kelm describes the immense love that Hashem has for His people. Hashem desires good for them, and feels their pain intensely.

Imagine an advisor who was the greatest expert in his field, totally devoted to his subjects, empathizing with them fully. He would treat his subjects just as he would treat his own family. Wouldn't everyone be eager to seek advice from such a person?

Emulate Hashem

If you realized how much Hashem loves people, how devoted He is to them, how much pain He suffers on their account... If you realized that He knows all with a clarity that would put any human advisor to shame -- wouldn't you take His advice?

Furthermore, if Hashem works so hard for us, surely we must work hard for other people! We are told to emulate Hashem's merciful ways. If Hashem empathizes with humans who cannot compare with Him, certainly we must empathize with other human beings.

Concepts and Mussar from Kelm (Serialized) Rav Simcha Zissel Ziev -- The 'Alter' of Kelm 8th Letter, Part Three

Not For Oneself

Hashem has written about Himself: "He has pain for all of their pain." (1) In the words of the Rabbis: (2) When man is in pain, what does the Shechina say? 'My head hurts, My arms hurt. "I am with him in his pain." ' (3)

So, too, Hashem has written about Himself: "His spirit was short because of the pain of Yisrael." (4)

Further, it is written in Yirmiyahu (Jeremiah) "he was bound in chains." (5) The literal meaning is that the prophet Yirmiyahu would join his people in their exile, and be bound with them in chains. Again, the Rabbis said (6) that Hashem was actually referring to Himself, as if to say that He was bound in chains with the exiles!

In Shir Hashirim (The Song of Songs), Shlomo Hamelech (King Solomon) states: "You shall come with Me from the Levanon, My bride, with Me from the Levanon." (7) The Rabbis explain that Hashem was saying to Yisrael, "From the day you leave the Sanctuary in Yerushalayim (8) until you return, you will be with Me." (9) Hashem would join the people in their wanderings and exiles, as if He, too, were bound in their chains.

Hashem relates these verses about Himself. How can it be that a person will not recognize that the greatest trait is to share his friend's burdens? (10) Although He is infinitely beyond human beings, Hashem feels for people. If so, certainly each person should seek ways to help one another!

We've already discussed (11) that a person is naturally inclined to rely on a doctor, even if the doctor is not an expert in his field. Certainly if the doctor is an expert... This being the case, why don't people entrust themselves to the care and judgment of the One who is always present? They don't realize that Hashem, who is "the place of the world", certainly knows the nature of the world... and the way to go through it. Naturally, we should go in the way of the Omnipresent. Besides, we are commanded by the Torah (12) to do so, as it says, "You shall go in His ways."

The benefit of 'going in His ways' is very great. Regarding Avraham, Hashem says, "I admire him because he commands his children to keep My way... Therefore I will make him into a great and powerful nation." (13)

Each Person is Responsible for Others

Hashem admires His people so much because they mirror His characteristics, as it states, "They were made in the image of Hashem." (14) If Hashem loves them so because of His qualities which they show -- even though they have no real comparison to Him -- certainly, we as human beings, must love the image of Hashem.

Certainly we must worry about the people in general. Everyone should suspect that his actions could turn the scales of the entire people. (15) Each should strive to perform mitzvos, avoid transgression -- and tilt the scales upward.

Thus, Chazal (the Rabbis of the Talmud) say, (16) "When I am for myself, what am I?" The entire purpose of man is to approach Hashem. This is the ultimate success. He is the Omnipresent, and there can be no greater success than coming close to the source of all, as we discussed earlier.

[In closing, Rav Simcha Zissel addresses his son.]

I grant you a very great present -- you should be blessed to walk in the ways of Hashem. May I, too, have a share in this! This is sufficient for those who think. I hope that this lofty address will make a powerful impression, according to the brocha of your father...

Today I finished the subject "When I am for myself, what am I?" This completes the subject of Rachav Hazonah [the convert who married Yehoshua] -- an amazing topic.

Everything is dependent on the multitude of thoughts. "When many thoughts were within me, your comforts cheered me." (17) The phrase "many thoughts" implies a dual increase in thought. First, the speaker had many different thoughts. Secondly, he had thoughts many times throughout the day. (18) ________________________ 1. Yeshaya (Isaiah 63:9). 2. Tractate Sanhedrin 46a. 3. T'hillim (Psalms 91:15). 4. Shoftim (Judges 10:16). 5. Yirmiyahu 40:1. 6. Yalkut Shimoni on Yirmiyahu, chapter 40, section 327. 7. Shir Hashirim 4:8. 8. Levanon is a reference to the Bais Hamikdosh. Targum ascribed to Rebbe Yonason Ben Uziel, D'varim 1:7; Yalkut Shimoni on Shir Hashirim 4:4, no. 588. 9. See Rashi, Ibid. 10. Hashem shows us -- by example -- the correct character. 11. Above, Eighth Letter, Part Two. 12. D'varim (Deuteronomy 28:9). 13. Bereishis (Genesis 18:17-19); Rashi, Bereishis 18:19. 14. See Bereishis 1:27. 15. Tractate Kiddushin, 40b. Everyone who performs a mitzva benefits all of Yisrael. 16. Pirke Avos 1:14. 17. T'hillim 94:19. 18. The implication is that one must consider the author's theme deeply, at length.

Rabbi Yaakov Bernstein Bais Medrash Yeshivas Chofetz Chaim Kiryas Radin Ramapo, New York 10977 845 362-5156

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