This Letter to the Editor published in the Hamodia newspaper irked me when I first read it. After that a few people pointed it out to me. As it seemed to be "not just me", I decided that it deserved to be pointed out and made famous (if only I had that ability..).
Ahavas Yisrael for Everyone? To the Editor: I would like to raise a point regardubg a letter in Hamodia June 13th, where Mrs. Risha Deitscg says the mitzva of ahavas yisrael applies also to the non-religious. I would like to refer her to Q and A with Rabbi Avigddor Miller, z"l. He clearly states at the beginning of a chapter entitled Loving the Jewish Nation, that loving a Jew only applies those who share the commitment fo the Torah, ve'ahavta l'reiacha kemocha means those who are like you, in that you both serve Hashem. He further makes a harsh comment that people who say they like to also have ahavas yisrael for members of other Jewish movements, it's enough of a job loving our real brothers and sisters. He also notes that people who are not loyal to Hashemare not loved by Hashem even if they are a tinok shenishba. Says Rabbi Chaim Brisker, zt"l, "Nebech an apikores, is fort an apikores." I am also not sure about your assumption of tinok shenishba, since these people know about yiddishkeit and choose to look into other things. I don't, however, want to stretch the letter and will rather just refer you to the sefer which we have talked about. The message is clear that there is no mitzva to love these possible reshaim, and as it is mentioned in many gemaras, we may not make up our own mitzvos With warmest regards, DY, Golders GreenSome people are just haters...
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