This week's parsha contains what Rabbi Akiva calls a "major principle" of Torah: "You should love your fellow as you love yourself." The fulfillment of this mitzvah is understood to be the basis of one's fulfillment of the entire Torah. Rabbi Hillel paraphrases the precept as "What is hateful to you, do not inflict upon others." According to Rabbi Hillel, "This is the entire Torah. The rest is commentary."
Writes the Sefer HaChinuch, "A person who loves another as himself will not steal from him, commit adultery with his wife, cheat him of goods or oppress him with words, will not move his boundary [usurp his land], and will not harm him in any way...The root reason for the mitzvah is apparent: for as a person treats another, so will the other treat him; and with this there will be peace among human beings."
How is it possible to love another as one loves oneself?
The great Chassidic master, the Baal Shem Tov, reminds us that we ourselves have many faults, but still love ourselves; so should we love others, despite their faults. Erich Fromm, the social psychologist, explains that we should love others because they are like us. We are all created in G-d's image. First, we must like and respect ourselves; then, we can come to have the same respect and consideration for others.
As parents, if we teach one principle to our children, this should be it. Imagine all of the childhood problems that would fade away if we took this principle to heart. There would be no more playground bullying, cyber-bullying, tattling, or cheating. There would only be empathetic children who consider the feelings of others before they speak or act. Imagine how much kinder and gentler childhood could be. It is our job as parents to make it so.
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