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Welcome to TanyaToday, where we offer daily doses of divine wisdom straight from the heart of Chassidic philosophy. Our episodes delve into the timeless teachings of the Tanya, shedding light on how these ancient insights are astonishingly relevant to modern living. Whether you're wrestling with life's big questions or simply seeking a moment of spiritual serenity, TanyaToday aims to enrich your day with meaningful, bite-sized lessons. Subscribe now to embark on a journey that bridges the heavenly and the everyday.
Welcome dear listeners, today we delve into the Tanya, specifically chapter 32, loving your fellow as yourself. This powerful yet simple commandment informs and shapes our daily interactions in profound ways.
In this chapter, the Alter Rebbe explains that the soul's essence is a part of G-d above. This means that our fellow Jews are not just our siblings in a metaphorical sense. We all share the same spiritual DNA, the same divine essence. As such, we ought to extend the same love and respect to them as we do to ourselves.
So, when we meet a person, let's not just see their externalities, their successes, their failures, their quirks. Let's recognize the divine essence within them. Let's empathize with their struggles and celebrate their victories, just like we would want others to do for us. This is the essence of 'love your fellow as yourself'.
But, the Alter Rebbe doesn't stop there. He explains that even if one sees another Jew sinning, they should not hate the sinner but the sin. We should hate the sin because it covers the divine essence within the person, just like we would hate anything that obscures our own divine essence.
So remember, every interaction, every encounter, is an opportunity to fulfill this mitzvah. It's an opportunity to connect, to empathize, to love, and to bring to light the divine essence in us all.
This podcast was produced and sponsored by Daniel Aharonoff.