Parshat Achrei Mot-Kedoshim: Loving the Stranger as Yourself

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This week is a double portion: Achrei Mot and Kedoshim. In Kedoshim, the Torah demands that we overcome self-interest and instead engage in empathy when we come into contact with a stranger. The Torah teaches this in Leviticus 19:34: “The strangers who reside with you shall be to you as your citizens; you shall love each one as yourself, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt: I Hashem am your God.”

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“Faith in the Future,” by Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks, points out that Leviticus 19:18 contains the famous commandment, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” which is frequently used as the foundation of religious teachings. However, the rabbis observed that the Hebrew Bible only tells us to love our neighbor once, but it commands us to love the stranger 37 times. The Torah teaches that we must be able to empathize with the outsider and consider what it may be like to be powerless in a place that is not our own. This is different from our neighbor, because they are similar to you, while the stranger is completely new to your community.

These teachings of Kedoshim really resonate with me. The idea of welcoming the stranger as yourself is an important value to me, because I was not once, but many times, a stranger in a new place.

When I first found out I was going to Krieger Schechter Day School, I felt scared and intimidated because many of the students already had their friend groups. What I didn’t realize was that I would be welcomed immediately. That brought me so much joy and a sense of contentment, where I didn’t need to worry anymore, because I found this amazing group of friends that I could trust. I hope to pass this on to other people.

The main thing that I want everyone to take away from this is to keep your heart open and to love the stranger as yourself. If this feels too hard, we don’t have to go overboard. The first step in fulfilling this commandment is to notice who isn’t being included and then including them. This commandment is not about immediately becoming best friends with someone, but about just making others feel comfortable and not alone.

Lily Kohel is a seventh grader at Krieger Schechter Day School.

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