We continue to discuss ways to love our fellow Jew. The Sefer Charedim gives us practical ways to fulfill this Mitzvah. In continuation from yesterday, he says Number five- always speak softly and calmly to your friend, in a way of endearment and respect. This is phenomenal. Just talking to someone can be a Mitzvah. How do you like to be spoken to? I was recently in a store and needed a certain item that I was missing for my summer home. I asked the worker where the item was. He said, “Over there, in aisle three.” I went to to third aisle, but I didn’t see it, so I went back to the man and I asked him if he could help me a little more. He stayed in his spot and he said, “Oh, look a little more… under there.” This went on for a while, back-and-forth. Let’s assume that there were no customers in the store. I’m sure if he was the customer, he would have liked if the worker would have gotten up from behind the counter and walked over to show him. We should always try to treat people the way that we would like to be treated. Another example- Talk softly and nicely when giving someone directions. Don’t start getting exasperated if he isn’t writing them down, and asks you a second time. These are simple, practical examples of how you can fulfill a Mitzvah when talking to someone. Even your tone of voice can fulfill a Mitzvah of Veahavta LeRe’echa Kamocha. Another example comes from Sefer Hasidim (in chapter 349, written by a Rishon, about 800 years ago) In the past, if a person had a certain bad dream, Lo Alenu, it was brought down that he should fast (this doesn’t necessarily apply today, when we have more anxiety). But what about if a person dreamt that his friend fell off a roof? Should he tell his friend, so that the friend could fast and prevent the bad decree? That would just cause the friend unnecessary anguish. The Sefer Chasidim says that the person who had the dream should fast, for his friend! Wouldn’t you want someone to fast for you , if you were in trouble? And when you do that, you fulfill Veahavta LeRe’echa Kamocha. One last example- the Aruch Hashulchan, in Yoreh Deah (chapter 215) tells us that when someone hears a Mi Sheberach and answers Amen , he fulfills the Mitzvah of Veahavta LeRe’echa Kamocha. If someone hears a person say Gomel , and say “ Amen , the One who gave you blessings should continue to bless you, ” you have fulfilled the mitzvah of Veahavta LeRe’echa Kamocha. Rabbi Zilberstein gives another example. In shul, if someone announces that a person is sick, Lo Alenu , and they want you to stay, to say some tehilim for the person, if you stay, you fulfill Veahavta LeRe’echa Kamocha. Wouldn’t you want people to stay and say Tehilim if you were in trouble, Lo Alenu? If, Lo Alenu, there is danger in Eretz Yisrael and we say Tehilim for 6 million people, that’s 6 million Veahavta LeRe’echa Kamocha s! These are all simple, practical examples of how, with a little thought, we can all acquire great Mitzvot. What unbelievable opportunities! Have a wonderful day.