Love Pulls

There is only one way to bring people closer to Torah, whether your friend, your spouse, your child or a complete stranger.

It is not with rebuke, not with arguments, not with intellectual games—but by drawing them with thick ropes of love, by showing your faith in who they are in word and in deed.

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Aid Your Nemesis

Unfailing Love

By Tzvi Freeman

From the wisdom of the Lubavitcher Rebbe, of righteous memory; words and condensation by Rabbi Tzvi Freeman. Subscribe and get your dose daily. To order Rabbi Freeman’s latest book, Wisdom to Heal the Earth, click here.

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10 Comments

Susan Batdorf Fort Worth June 1, 2024

What I understand from this is that everyone is a child of G_d and that we should look upon them as such. They will respond better to being treated with respect and dignity then arguments, scorn, distain. If we want them to know the goodness of G_d, we need to show it in words and actions. That doesn't mean a hug if they know it makes both of us uncomfortable. We can find other kind expressions. Reply

Karen WA June 17, 2020

Not crazy about the artwork for this Daily Dose but am really feeling the words. A lot. The comments here go back to 2008 and it’s 2020. I am drawn to each of the 8 comments below and wish there was a way to chat about the ideas and see how everyone has been doing. Usually I don’t connect with many of the daily dose comments but on this one I really felt each or your eight viewpoints. May we all be okay. Reply

Anonymous USA June 17, 2020

A truth more powerful than any currently being expressed! Pleasure to see it reaffirmed by one who fully understands.
Thank you! Reply

Anonymous 70726 January 13, 2016

there are people whom I live by and attend certain functions with. they like to judge people by color, race. nationality, etc. I do not like these people and I wish nothing to do with them. I am nice to them but it does not mean that I hang around them. what do you think? Reply

James More Seasick City January 13, 2016

Thanks for helping me live better. Reply

Marvin Falz Germany January 5, 2014

To Anonymous in Thornhill, Ont In my experience acts of love are not bound exclusively to the feeling of love. I also doubt that hugs are useful in every situation considering that my counterpart would probably feel the emptiness of my act or doesn't like to be hugged in that moment.

Acts of love can be divided into positive and negative categories, dos and don'ts. Everybody has to determine the dos and don'ts in every situation in the spirit of loving-kindness.

For example, the behavior of my counterpart arouses strong anger in me. One possible act of love would be to leave the scene, calm down, analyse and pray for inspiration either to avoid or to resolve such a situation or to get used to it. Maybe my perception - of what might be a karmic situation - is worse than what's actually happening. If I'm able to change my own attitude (in the spirit of loving-kindness) and discover even the least step out of the situation I open up a chance to draw all involved closer to ourselves, closer to G-d and closer to a hug. Reply

Cecilia December 9, 2008

true true So true, that is the message of the Torah isn't it. We are all special and unique and our suffering and strengths are all unique and beautiful and no one has the right to judge anyone.

It has taught me so much compassion for others and for myself. Reply

henk Buffalo, NY December 8, 2008

Love Pulls the torah is a way of life, its a way of dealing with one another when issues tear at relationships, its a way of looking beyond ones desires or personal ambitions and to look at how ones beliefs contradict the torah and come then to the way of the torah. so the question would then be, how do you bring people closer to the torah who oppose those who oppose their falsehoods and how can one be expected to show faith in who they are when they oppose so much of who you are when your beliefs are unbending nor compromising with that wish is not compatible? are we to do as Anonymous in Thornhill, Ont says and hug with emptiness and fake love simply to tolerate? Reply

Anonymous thornhill, ont December 8, 2008

When I try to show love for another Jew I can only give empty gestures. I can give the person a hug, I can tell person that I love him but those acts remain empty, without feeling. I can do those things even if the person is not nice even if the person looks like he is intentionally trying to hurt me I can still give the person a hug but the gesture remains without feeling. Perhaps the fact that I could hug a person that I think such things about shows empty my actions are.

Is there anything that I can do to change the way I am? Reply

Rusti Quitman, AR December 8, 2008

Exactly Thank you for so aptly expressing what is in my heart. I have tried to explain before, but have never been able to say it so eloquently as you have. It is a very basic and fundamental truth that we all need to bear in mind as we go about our daily lives, interacting and shining our light to the world. Reply

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