Gershon Wolf Poet Rhyme

Love Your Friend

Love your friend* as yourself
  That is the whole Torah**
The rest is commentary
  How can that be?

We are commanded to love God too
  with all our heart, soul, and might***
So how is just loving your friend
  to Almighty God not a slight?

The answer, of course, lies in the verse --
  Who is the friend you can count on
Through thick and thin, through bad and worse?
  ~ Why, that friend is God, foremost and first ****


_______________________________________
*Leviticus 19:18: 'Love your friend as yourself,'
The word ' your friend' (Hebrew, rey-eh'cha) is 
often mistranslated into English as 'your neighbor.' 
In Biblical and Talmudic Hebrew, 'rey'us' always 
refers to friendship.  'Shakhen' is 'neighbor.' 

**This is how the Sage Hillel responded to a
fellow who wanted to be taught the whole
Torah while standing on one leg. (See Talmud
Shabbos 31a).

***Deuteronomy 6:5

****See Proverbs 27:10: 'Do not forsake your
friend and your father's friend...' (Your father's
friend is God Himself -- Rashi's Commentary).

♡Like0

Share Poem

---

Post Comments

Poetrysoup is an environment of encouragement and growth so only provide specific positive comments that indicate what you appreciate about the poem. Negative comments will result your account being banned.

Please Login to post a comment

Christuraj Alex May 5, 2021 at 10:09 AM Touching the Self!

Caren Krutsinger April 26, 2021 at 7:32 AM Very spiritual as well as religious; a rare poem.

Robert Pettit April 24, 2021 at 7:40 PM Nice insight into the Scriptures you have provided here. Good to read. Gershon Wolf April 24, 2021 at 8:07 PM Robert, thank you so much for your encouragement. Happy weekend, Gerwhon

Rico Leffanta April 24, 2021 at 11:52 AM Good luck with being, "commanded to love"! Aloha! Rico Gershon Wolf April 24, 2021 at 8:04 PM You know, you're right. Rico. Taint easy! :) gw

Quoth Theraven April 24, 2021 at 11:39 AM Gershon, Wondering at the word for devotion in the Torah. The world of the devout grounded in solid bedrock. Your poem; a handhold, a stairstep to truth. -Richard Gershon Wolf April 24, 2021 at 8:03 PM Thank you for your kind words, Richard... As for 'devotion,' put it in a sentence, and I'll give you a Hebrew translation. There are several translation options... A 'devout' person is a 'chasid,' however. (That's right. Not all true 'Chasidim' have long beards). ~ gw

Alexis Y. April 24, 2021 at 7:54 AM Hi Gershon, I agree with this wise biblical verse. If one were to think in those terms, one would be able to their friend. However, some don’t have a friend nor love themself. I enjoyed the read. Have a great day and weekend my friend:-) Alexis Gershon Wolf April 24, 2021 at 8:07 PM You have hit the nail on the head, Alexis. In order to fulfill this teaching, first one has to love himself! So there is an argument between Hillel and Akiva: Hillel maintains that this verse is the 'great principle of the Torah.' Whereas Akiva thinks that it's 'In the image of God, created He man.' Pretty esoteric stuff, I guess, but worth a ponder or two. Thanks for your though-provoking visit. Best always, Gershon