Charry Memorial Shabbat Afternoon Program with Rabbi Shai Held

All are invited to a joint kiddush and GJC’s annual Charry Memorial Shabbat afternoon program: “‘Love Your Neighbor As Yourself’: What Are We Actually Being Asked for?” No lesser a figure than R. Akiva declares that “love your neighbor as yourself” is “the great principle of the Torah” (kelal gadol baTorah). Yet Jews have always struggled to discern just what this startling verse asks of us. In this session, through careful engagement with both traditional commentators and modern academic Bible scholars, we’ll ask such questions as: What does this verse mean? Can love (or any other feeling, for that matter) really be commanded? Can we really love other people as much as we love ourselves? And who is the neighbor we’re commanded to love, anyway?