The Mitzvah of Ahavas Yisroel
“Ve’ahavta lerei’echa kamocha”, the mitzvah of Ahavas Yisroel, “Mitzvas asei le’ehov kol echad v’echad mi’Yisroel kegufo”, is a positive commandment to love every Jew in the same manner that we love ourselves. This mitzvah is a klal gadol ba’Torah (fundamental principle of Torah), and furthermore, it is the yesod (foundation) of our Torah, upon which the entire Torah is based. The mitzvos of comforting mourners, visiting the sick, bringing joy to a chosson and kallah, among other mitzvos, are all aspects of the mitzvah of Ahavas Yisroel. Having compassion for others is an aspect of this mitzvah, as well. The Rambam in Sefer HaMitzvos describes this mitzvah in the following terms: if there is something she’ertze le’aztmi (that I want for myself), ertze lo kamohu (I should want the same for my fellow Jew).
The mitzvah of “Hochei’ach tochiach es amisecha” (rebuking another if they are doing something contrary to Torah) does not contradict the mitzvah of Ahavas Yisroel; on the contrary, rebuking them stems from our love and care for them, and we therefore desire that they to do Hashem’s Will—which is also their own will at their core, since every Jew’s true desire is to do Hashem’s Will. Although there is a mitzvah of hating those who sin, it is explained in Tanya to apply only once they were rebuked and chose to ignore our admonition, and only to those who are as observant as we are, know what the Torah demands and fully understand our rebuke. Even where applicable, this does not conflict with the mitzvah of loving them; we should only hate that which is negative, i.e. their negative aspects, but the individuals themselves are good at their core, and should be loved. They are part of the Jewish people, a child of Hashem, whom He loves, and we should therefore love them as we love Hashem. 397