Michal Horowitz: Loving Your Fellow Jew, Learning to Look Past the Superficialities

Michal Horowitz regularly teaches classes and presents guest lectures on various topics related to Torah, Judaism and Jewish thought. Her goal is to bring the beauty, inspiration, and depth of Torah to others, no matter their age, affiliation, or prior Torah background. Michal believes that life can be beautiful, turbulent, joyous, and painful. As complex as life is, it is the teachings and wisdom of the Torah that helps to guide us along the way. Michal helps us better understand the Torah commandment of, "You shall love your fellow Jew as you love yourself. I am Hashem, your G-d." She explains that the actual commandment is, "Love for your fellow Jews what you love for yourself. I am Hashem, your G-d." This means, that you should want for your fellow Jews what you want for yourself. For example, if you want money for yourself, want money for your fellow Jew. If you want food to eat, a house to live in, happiness in your life, etc., want all these things for your fellow Jew as well. Hashem can give to you as much as He gives to others. His love for you and all the Jews is unlimited, and all the things that He has to give are unlimited as well. Feel free to ask Hashem for abundance for yourself, as well as your fellow Jew. Don't set limits on your love. Also, don't hold a grudge against a fellow Jew. We are strong when we are united. Our enemies can't harm us when we are unified. In order to want good for our fellow Jews, and value them as human beings, we must fist truly understand our own self worth and value. It's vital to know that you are here because you are important, and because you have a mission. Hashem, who knows everything, put you here because He feels that you matter and He loves you. If Hashem loves you and thinks that you are worthy of being in this world, then you should value yourself as well. Only when we believe in our own self-worth and believe that we have something to contribute, can we want good for our fellow Jews. Contact: atrebbetzins@gmail.com