Everyone agrees love is a good thing. But what does it mean?
This week’s Torah portion teaches us: “Love your neighbor like yourself.”
The love the Torah talks about is more than just a feeling. Love needs to be demonstrated through doing, like helping other people or sharing with them and trying not to be selfish.
The Torah is teaching us that we can make a better, more loving world by making ourselves into better, more loving people.
In our story a girl discovers that to love is to give.
The Love Sweater
“Mom, I don’t know what to do,” said Cheryl. “I just got off the phone with Rachel, and she asked me to borrow one of my sweaters to wear to a family party.”
“And?” asked her mother.
“And, I’m not sure I want to,” answered Cheryl. “I love that sweater and besides, it’s mine.”
“Are you afraid that Rachel will ruin it?” asked her mom.
“Oh, no,” laughed Cheryl. “Rachel’s really careful. She’ll probably take better care of it than I do. It just bothers me that someone wants to borrow one of my things.
“Which sweater is it?” asked her mom.
“Oh, I’ll run upstairs and bring it down to show you,” said Cheryl as she dashed out of the room. She got to the closet and picked out the sweater. It was pink with gorgeous embroidered roses. Just then she felt something in the front pocket she had never noticed before. It was a note. It said:
To my dear niece, Cheryl. I bought this sweater for myself, but when I thought of how much you would love it I had to give it to you. As much as I loved the sweater, I love you more! — Love, Aunt Susan
Cheryl started to think about her Aunt Susan, who was now in the hospital. “What a loving person she is, she’s always teaching us how wonderful it is to share with others…”
Suddenly Cheryl knew what she would do. She brought the “love sweater” downstairs and smiled at her mom.
“Gee Mom,” she said. “Aunt Sue gave me this sweater out of love. I don’t think I could give it away like she did, but at least I could lend it to my friend.”
Her mom gave Cheryl a hug and said, “I’m proud of you. Let’s go visit Aunt Susan in the hospital. I’m sure that she will be happy to see us and to hear that you’re putting the sweater, and her loving advice, to good use.”
