Kol Yisrael Arevim Zeh ba-Zeh Value: Kol Yisrael Arevim Zeh ba-Zeh The Talmud, teaches, “Kol Yisrael arevim zeh ba-zeh — All Israel is responsible one for the other” (Shavuot 39a). This doesn’t mean that Jews should care only about other Jews, but that every Jew should recognize that there is a connection between all Jews. Every Jew has an obligation to help another Jew if he or she is in need. This statement from the Talmud is part of ahavat Yisrael, love for Israel. This is an obligation for every Jew. Ahavat Yisrael means “love of Israel” — but who is Israel? We don’t mean just the country. Israel is all of us. All Jews alive today together make up this massive thing called Israel. And that’s why Israel the country is named Israel — because it’s the place that is home to Israel — all Jews. So “love of Israel” means love of other Jews. Kol Yisrael arevim zeh ba-zeh teaches that we have an obligation to support and protect other Jews.
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