Hatred Fuels Hatred, Love Fuels Love

Advertisements
Advertisements

2 min read

FacebookTwitterLinkedInPrintFriendlyShare

Devarim (Deuteronomy 1:1-3:22 )

Moses is speaking to the people before his death, reviewing the events and experiences that they had encountered during their years in the desert. "...and you said, because the Almighty hated us he took us out of Egypt..." (Deut 1:27).

God hated them? How could this be?!

Rashi comments, that really God loved the people, but because they felt hatred towards Him they mistakenly felt that He hated them! Rashi says, "What you feel about someone else, you assume he feels about you" (Sifsai Chachamim). God did not hate His people at all, the people had projected their own feelings, and assumed very wrongly!

This is a fascinating insight into human psychology.

If we feel negatively towards others, we assume that that’s how they must be feeling about us. This can result in feud based on nothing more than our own thoughts. On the flipside, this means that if you feel love and compassion towards others, you will also assume that others feel positively about you.

Taking this a step further...

Our thoughts dictate our actions, and our actions towards others influence how they will act towards us. For example, if we feel positively towards someone (thought), then we may smile, and show them that we care about them (action). This will increase their positive feelings towards us, which in turn will motivate them to respond with kind actions (influenced response).

Hatred fuels hatred, but love fuels love.

If we as individuals work on projecting love and positivity, then people will respond in kind, creating a harmonious and peaceful society, reflecting and bouncing the values of kindness and giving off of each other.

Click here to comment on this article
guest
0 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
EXPLORE
LEARN
MORE
Explore
Learn
Resources
Next Steps
About
Donate
Menu
Languages
Menu
oo
Social
.