The Jewish people are like one large family – we may love each other, but it is not always so harmonious. We need to work on liking each other too.
It can be easier to like someone that you do not really care about, but when you love someone, that closeness and caring makes it harder to like him or her. Consequently, it can be hardest to like those that you care deeply about.
During the time of the counting of the Omer, we recount how the students of Rabbi Akiva quarreled – Rabbi Akiva, who was known for the phrase “Love your fellow as yourself”! Because, when one loves the other truly, it is more difficult to actually like them and get along…just like family.
We must remember that each person is unique – a particular expression of G-d’s infiniteness.
– Rabbi Shmulik Yeshayahu
We must remember that each person is unique – a particular expression of G-d’s infiniteness. Because G-d is infinite, he created the world and humans with many different natures, shortcomings, personalities: we come in all kinds. We must value each person as a unique expression on G-dliness, created uniquely in G-d’s images, with flaws and different temperaments.
Let us all work on treating everyone, including ourselves, with kindness – even (especially!) the ones that we love.
