“In everyone there is something of his fellow man…. Hence, ‘love your neighbor’–for he is really you yourself.” –Rabbi Moses Cordovero This well-known commandment from the Bible is often understood to mean we should love our neighbor as much as we love ourselves. I’ve even believed that, in order to keep this commandment, a person must first learn to love herself.
Recently, however, I learned from author Lois Tverberg that the Hebrew word translated as “yourself” can also mean “who is similar to yourself.” That small shift offers an entirely different perspective on how to live out this commandment.
After traveling around the world, I have come to realize that I am no different – no better and no worse – than anyone else. Every culture offers unique experiences, beliefs, traditions, and valu…