Yom Haatzmaut marks a day on the Jewish calendar that is enveloped in controversy. Unfortunately, what should be a celebratory day has become one overshadowed with clashes and disputes. There are arguments about whether Yom Haatzmaut should be a day of celebration; whether we should say Hallel and if so, with or without a blessing? Should we say Tachanun? Can one shave on Yom Haatzmaut, even though it is during Sefirat Haomer?[1] These common questions call for a reflection on the need for ahavat Yisrael (love for other Jews) both specifically on Yom Haatzmaut and, more generally, every day.

The Torah tells us in Vayikra 19:18 that there is a mitzvah “to love your neighbor just like you love yourself.” There is a midrash[2] that states that Rabbi Akiva holds that this very mitzvah is a klal gadol baTorah (fundamental idea in the Torah). Rabbi Akiva explains that a person should not say, “because I do not care if I am degraded, therefore, I may degrade my friend.” This is because if a person belittles someone else they are belittling a creation of Hashem’s. This notion is exemplified in Masechet Shabbat 31a, where a prospective convert came to Hillel and asked him to teach him the whole Torah while standing on one foot. Hillel responded to him, “do not do to others what you do not want done to you. This is the Torah and the rest is just commentary!” Hillel was indicating that this mitzvah of ahavat Yisrael is the essence of the Torah.

The idea conveyed by Hillel is demonstrated in Masechet Yoma 9b. The Talmud depicts how before the destruction of the Second Temple, Torah learning, performance of mitzvot, and chessed (acts of kindness) were thriving. So why was it that the Second Temple was destroyed? The Talmud answers that the Second Temple was destroyed because of the baseless hatred that the Jewish people had towards each other. The nonexistence of ahavat Yisrael is what led to the destruction of the Second Temple. The loss of our Temple has led to a spiritual deficiency in our nation that has stung us until today. However, we can see that the repercussion for not carrying out this mitzvah extends to our physical destruction as well. This is illustrated in Masechet Yevamot 62b, where it states that 24,000 of Rabbi Akiva’s students died because they did not show respect to one another. These students were the Torah prodigies of their generation, yet due to their lack of ahavat Yisrael they were not worthy of living. Interestingly, these two Mesechtot are paralleled in that they both describe how Torah learning is meaningless without ahavat Yisrael.

Furthermore, the loss of Rabbi Akiva’s students is the very reason we mourn for the first 33 days of Sefirat Haomer. During those days, we don’t shave[3] in order to exhibit our mourning for their loss. This law’s application to Yom Haatzmaut is the subject of a machloket. Some hold that shaving is permitted during Yom Haatzmaut,[4] and others say it is forbidden.[5] While each side of the debate has a legitimate halachic basis, the issue should not cause conflict between people or groups of people, especially since the whole reason for our grieving during Sefirat Haomer is due to Rabbi Akiva’s students’ lack of ahavat Yisrael.

We can see that the consequences for the absence of ahavat Yisrael are quite harsh. Therefore, we need to pursue a desire for ahavat Yisrael. Rav Kook[6] famously writes that “if hatred is what brought about the destruction of the Second Temple, then surely love will bring about the construction of the Third Temple.” Moreover, Rav Kook profoundly expresses elsewhere[7] that in order to ensure ahavat Yisrael, we need to eliminate the notion of the separate camps in the Jewish community, since the moment we place someone in a different camp they become irrelevant to us. When someone is extraneous to us, the chance of loving them is minimal. Through making each other relevant we will learn to have ahavat Yisrael. Consequently, the very fact that we all are Jews is reason enough to love each other, regardless of our differing opinions.

On Yom Haatzmaut, a day that is both celebratory and controversial regarding the Land of Israel, it is worth noting the impact that the Land of Israel has on ahavat Yisrael. The Avnei Nezer[8] quotes the Maharal who portrays how, until Bnei Yisrael entered into the Land of Israel, their responsibility for one another did not take effect. This is because the Land of Israel is what makes Bnei Yisrael “like one man with one heart.” Therefore, on Yom Haatzmaut, which is the celebration of Israel’s independence, it is absolutely crucial to understand the magnitude of ahavat Yisrael, and our dependence on it. The essence of Yom Haatzmaut is perhaps not found in the details of the day itself, but rather in the inspiration leading us toward a greater ahavat Yisrael.

[1] Yom Haatzmaut is the day 20th day of the omer.

[2] Bereishit Rabbah 24:7.

[3] Shulchan Aruch OC 493:1 and Rama ibid.

[4] See Peninei Halacha by Rabbi Eliezer Melamed, “Yom Haatzmaut” section.

[5] Yaskil Avdi 6:10.

[6] Orot HaKodesh, Vol. III, pg. 324.

[7] Ma’amarei HaRa’ayah, Vol. I, pg. 76.

[8] Avnei Nezer, Yoreh Deah 126:3-4.