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Podcast: The daily Hayom Yom with Rabbi Yosef Katzman
Episode: Hayom Yom 28 Nissan - To love a fellow Jew is superior to love of G‑d
Description: Day 13 of the Omerהַחֲסִידִים שָׁאֲלוּ אֶת אַדְמוּ"ר הַזָּקֵןChassidim once asked the Alter Rebbe: אֵיזֶה עֲבוֹדָה נַעֲלֵית יוֹתֵר“Which kind of Divine service is superior — אַהֲבַת ה' אוֹ אַהֲבַת יִשְׂרָאֵלcultivating a love of G‑d or cultivating a love for one’s fellow Jew?”וַיַּעַן[The Alter Rebbe] answered: אַהֲבַת ה' וְאַהֲבַת יִשְׂרָאֵל שְׁתֵּיהֶן כְּאַחַת חֲקוּקוֹת“Loving G‑d and loving one’s fellow Jew are both equally engraved בְּנִשְׁמָתוֹ רוּחוֹ וְנַפְשׁוֹ שֶׁל כָּל אֶחָד מִיִּשְׂרָאֵלin the soul of every Jew. וּמִקְרָא מָלֵא דִבֵּר הַכָּתוּב אָהַבְתִּי אֶתְכֶם אָמַר הNevertheless, it is explicitly stated: ‘I have loved you,’ declares G‑d.’ הֲרֵי דִּגְדוֹלָה אַהֲבַת יִשְׂרָאֵלFrom this we can conclude that the love for one’s fellow Jew is superior, דְּאוֹהֵב מַה שֶׁהָאָהוּב אוֹהֵבbecause it involves loving what one’s Beloved loves.”Text and Translation courtesy of Sichos in EnglishFor questions and follow-up: [email protected]