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.

Kol Yisrael Arevim Zeh ba-Zeh Text: Talmud

Here is the text from the Talmud where the phrase Kol Yisrael arevim zeh ba-zeh is found.

The Torah teaches: “They shall stumble over one another, as if to escape a sword, though chases….” (Leviticus 26:37) no one

This means that one stumbles because of the sin of the other. This verse teaches us that all Israel is responsible one for the other. They are punished (by stumbling) because it was in their power to prevent the sin, and they did not prevent it. (Shavuot 39a)

Rabbi Isaac Luria taught: “This is why the confessional prayer Al Het is worded, “For the sin that we have sinned…” All of Israel is one body. Every Jew is part of that body. All Israel is

responsible one for the other.

1. According to the Talmud, why does one person stumble over another? 2. H ow does this teach that all Israel is responsible one for the other? 3. What does Rabbi Isaac Luria add to this? 4. What is your understanding of Kol Yisrael arevim zeh ba-zeh?