Love Thy Neighbor

Known for his charity Shmelke of Nokolsburg, a Moravian rabbi wrote these words of wisdom that I share with you “love your neighbor like something which you yourself are”. These words are nothing new, we hear them, over and over again, and I truly want to believe we hear these wise words, but we forget. However, Shmelke goes on to say “Don’t you know that the original soul came out of God? And will you have no mercy on Him, when you see that one of his holy sparks has been lost in the maze, and is almost stifled?” We all make mistakes- it is human nature. Though sometimes it is hard to forgive ourselves life goes on. If we could all be more understanding of one another and help each other if the other loses his/her way.
Shmelke says if someone where to cause you harm, or perhaps hurt your child, or even terrorize your country, “ if you punish him, you only hurt yourself”.  Since we are all from one source, the source of God, hurting another will end up hurting everyone. What is suggested is the honor all with love and compassion.

A friend once said something to me that really surprised me and at the time left me a little unsettled. He said that he could understand why rapist rape and murderers kill- I really considered this idea, although as ugly as the topic is I some how, by reading this article, started to understand what he meant. People are so different, some might be nurturing, compared to someone else might be neglectful- but this is just one part of who they are. Shmelke says “he wrongs you because he does not understand”, I think that if we would take the time and see the God like qualities in one, and try to connect, or at least acknowledge them, and try to understand  the world would be a safer place.

Shmelke had little to give, yet once when a beggar came to his door he took the gold wedding band from his wives finger and sent the beggar his way with the band. Shmelke’s wife astonished said, “Shmelke we have nothing but that golden band, which is worth about 400 ducats”. Shmelke ran after the beggar – just to tell him not to be cheated out of a fair price. I find the more I give the more I receive…