The Love of Humankind and The Love of the Nation
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A strong voice against religious (even Jewish) chauvinism. "It is only a person rich in love for people and love for each individual person who can reach the love for his own nation in its noblest dimension, spiritually and practically", plus more about Love.
The Love of Humankind and The Love of the Nation
from Orot haQodesh 4:20 (translation
by Rabbi B.Z. Bokser)
Much
effort is needed to broaden the love for people to the proper level, at which
this love must pervade life to its fullest depth. This must be done in opposition to
the superficial view, which suggests itself initially on the basis of
inadequate study of the Torah and of conventional morality, and where it would
seem as though there is a contradiction to such love, or, at least,
indifference to it.
The highest level of love for people is the love due the individual person; it must embrace every single individual, regardless of differences in views on religion, or differences of race or temperament. It is essential to understand the mentalities of different nations and groupings, to study their characteristics and life-styles in order to know how to base our human love on foundations that will readily translate themselves into action.
It is only a person rich in love for people and love for each individual person who can reach the love for his own nation in its noblest dimension, spiritually and practically.
The narrow-mindedness that leads one to view whatever is outside a particular nation, even what is outside the Jewish people, as ugly and defiling is a phase of the frightful darkness that undermines altogether every effort to reach that state of spiritual development whose dawn is awaited by every sensitive spirit.