UNWARRANTED HATE vs UNWARRANTED LOVE

Dear Family,

I hope that everyone is well

Mazal Tov to Devorah Leah on her upcoming birthday on Shabbos. Wishing you a year of much success in both gashmius and ruchnius Devorah Leah, with lots of nachas from all of your children, together with Shmuly, and with much joy!

We are now in the 9 days until Tisha BeAv, which is a mourning period commemorating the loss of both our Temples.

The following discussion takes place in Talmud Yoma 9b:

“Why was the First Temple destroyed? – Because of idolatry, murder and adultery. (And this resulted in an Exile of 70 years)

During the times of the Second Temple, people were engaged in Torah, Mitzvos and generosity. And so why was it destroyed? – Because there were Jews who hated other Jews for no reason. (And this resulted in an ongoing Exile of up-coming 2000 years!)

Which teaches us that unwarranted hatred (*SINAS CHINAM*) is equal to idolatry, murder and adultery combined.”

And the fact that we are still in exile after 2000 years, points to the complexity of repairing sinas chinam, which is based on raw irrational hatred, resulting in disputes, quarrelling and deeper and deeper layers of complexity.

This is discussed in Likutei Torah, Matot 86a, 88b and Maamar Hechaltzu 5659, Chap 3, where the conclusion was that the antidote of Sinas Chinam has to be *AHAVAS CHINAM –* unwarranted love, which also transcends reason.

Ie With a single unpredictable and unconditional act of one human being caring for another, connecting with another, especially another whose very presence he cannot bear, the whole of creation becomes healed and fulfilled.

The Tanya of today and yesterday seemed to be making a similar point, related to the theme of Teshuvah (Chaps 11 and 12 of Igeret haTeshuvah)

The Alte Rebbe explained that even after a person has done Teshuvah regarding his past sins, he should still always remember them, but from afar.

This does 2 things:

1. Firstly, it reminds him that he is not perfect, and he will not be arrogant, and in the process, accept other people more readily

2. It will bring him to a state of joy, when he is able to be more accepting of the more painful challenges that happen to him in his life, due to his matured attitude.

“As our Sages declare, ‘ Those who are humiliated, yet do not humiliate in return. Who hear their insult and do not retort. Who perform out of love and are happy in affliction – concerning them Scripture says, Those who love Him shall be like the sun rising in all its might (Judges 5:31, Shabbat 88b)

Moreover, whoever passes over their feelings, all their sins are passed over (Rosh Hashanah 17a)”

Gut Shabbos to all