What is at the center of Judaism?

With so many Jewish values, so many texts, philosophies, and liturgy, what is really the central component of our religion? Some may say God is at the center. Some may say Torah. Perhaps tikkun olam. While all these things are important to who we are as a people and how we shape tradition, I believe love is at the center of what it means to be Jewish and live a Jewish life.

We just observed the saddest day of our tradition, Tisha B’Av, this past Wednesday. Next Wednesday, only a week later, we will celebrate Tu B’Av. Tu B’Av is a joyous occasion of love, renewal, and hope, akin to Valentine’s Day. Why would a celebration day of love be marked on our calendars after such a commemorative day of sadness? Because the antidote to the baseless hatred and destruction we remember on Tisha B’Av is love. Love for each other, our people, and God is what allows us to be unified and resilient throughout the generations.

Our liturgy reflects this idea, as well. Before the Shema, we sing Ahavat Olam, recalling the everlasting love that God has offered to us and our promise to rejoice in Torah and mitzvot. Immediately following Ahavat Olam, in every service, is the Shema, our call for Israel to listen – Shema Yisrael! – “listen to what we must do!” What are we commanded to do after we listen? We are commanded to love, v’ahavta. We display it on our doorposts and teach it to our children that we shall love with “all our heart, with all our soul, and all our might” (V’ahavta, Deut. 6:5-9). 

We see this commandment to love in this week’s Torah portion, as Moses is retelling the story of the Israelite’s departure from Egypt and making of our covenant with God. The command to love is a powerful reminder that God is one, we are one, and love is the glue that will hold us together for generations to come.

This Shabbat, I invite you to express love intentionally. Reach out to friends or family you haven’t spoken to in a while. Offer forgiveness where you can. Tell the people in your life that you love them. Perform an act of kindness with no expectation of anything in return. If love truly stands at the heart of our tradition, then every act of compassion, generosity, and understanding becomes a sacred act.

May we move from the sorrow of Tisha B’Av to the joy of Tu B’Av by choosing love over division, connection over isolation, and hope over despair. In doing so, we fulfill the commandment central to Judaism, to love with all we have.

With much love from my family to yours this Shabbat,

Rabbi Ranata Shlobin