Parshat Kedoshim, May 3,2008

(From Mrs. Elana Stein Hain)

Two Rabbis argue over the foundational value of the Torah. The one, Rabbi Akiva, suggests, ve'ahavta l'reiakha ka'mokha, "Love your neighbor as yourself" (Lev. 19:18), while the other, Ben Azzai, quotes zeh seifer toldot ha'adam "This is the book of the generations of humanity" (Gen 5:1). What is the kernel of their debate?

The Malbim suggests motivation as the central issue. For Rabbi Akiva, kindness may even be self-serving: Treat your neighbor as you wish to be treated. For Ben Azzai, generosity of spirit is a product of idealism: Do what is best for your fellow human being.

But there is another difference: Rabbi Akiva mentions reiakha, "your friend," someone whom we already know, someone with whom we already have a relationship. Ben Azzai, though, advocates good will towards all, even those who are complete strangers.

On Yom HaShoah we achieve a synthesis of these two -the ability to relate and to care about the experiences of perfect strangers the way we would care about our next of kin, even sometimes the way we would care about ourselves. May this sensitivity and this empathy inspire us throughout the year.