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In order to love your neighbor, you have to love yourself

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"If you can learn to love yourself and flaws, you can love other people so much better."

-Kristin Chenowith

Inspiration

By Rick Sherwin

February 14th is the designated day to respond to Cupid's encouragement to express our love, bringing to mind cards, flowers, and restaurant reservations. The Hebrew Bible asks us to examine first the internal message of love that lies within our soul. “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Loving another is wonderful, but you must do it as yourself, you must be genuine.

With wisdom and insight, the Talmudic Sages add to the interpretation of the verse, “Love your neighbor as yourself." If you do not have a positive view of who you are, you will have a problem extending genuine love to others.

The Rabbis' interpretation simply reminds us to look into the mirror and like the person we see, even as we strive to be the person we have the potential to be. Only then can we be genuinely loving and beloved.

Happy Valentine's Day!

 

 

Rick Sherwin is the Rabbi at Congregation Beth Am in Longwood. He is a graduate of UCLA and was ordained by the Jewish Theological Seminary in New York. He energetically fills spiritual services and educational programs with creativity, relevance, dialogue and humor.

Inspiration, Rabbi Rick Sherwin

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