We are discussing the Mitzvah of Veahavta L’Re’echa Kamocha, Love your friend like you love yourself , which is one of the 613 Mitzvot. We don’t just love people because it is a nice thing to do, but because it is a Mitzvah. But there is a concept in the Torah called מצוות צריכות כונה Mitzvot Need Intention When you do a mitzvah, you need intention . Before you say Keriat Shema in the morning, you should have in mind that you are fulfilling a positive commandment. Before you hear the shofar, you should have in mind that you are fulfilling a positive commandment. Before you eat matzah on Passover, again, you should have in mind that you are fulfilling a positive commandment. Before you eat a kazayit in the succah , have in mind that you are fulfilling a positive commandment. Shulchan Aruch says that we should try to fulfill all Mitzvot with Kavana/intention. The question is, what happens when it comes to Mitzvot regarding Ben Adam Lehavero/man-to-man? For example- is it a Mitzvah to love your spouse or your child? They’re Jewish, but if you weren’t thinking of Veahavta LeRe’echa Kamocha, do you get a Mitzvah for loving them? The Chafetz Chaim, in his sefer Ahavat Chessed (Helek sheni, Perek כג ) tells us that even Mitzvot between man and man need to have kavana. He says that when you give charity and say, “ On the condition that my son lives ,” or,“ On the condition that my business is successful, ” Or, that I should get Olam Haba , even if you’re doing the Mitzvah for a side motive, it’s still a Mitzvah, provided that you have kavana that you’re doing it because, Hashem told you to. The Mitzvah of Veahavta LeRe’echa Kamocha is no different. Even though you might be doing it for an incentive (such as, as we said yesterday, in order to be loved by Hashem), you have to have kavana . The Sefer HaBrit (volume 2, section 13, chapter 18) says that even though the Mitzvah of Veahavta LeRe’echa Kamocha is a Mitzvah of Middot and Sechel (i.e. it makes sense to do it) we still have to do it because Hashem commanded us to. This is the second explanation of why the pasuk says, “ Veahavta LeRe’echa Kamocha Ani Hashem /Love your friend like you love yourself I am Hashem.” Do it because, “ I Hashem, commanded you to.” Don’t just say you love people because you’re a good human. You should love people because Hashem told you to; because it’s a Mitzvah to love Jewish people. Love them for a religious reason. He brings a Mishnah from Pirkei Avot ( chapter 2) that proves this. It says, “ Your friend’s money should be dear to you like your own. And the Mishnah ends with, “ And all of your deeds should be for the sake of God.” He explains that treating your friend’s money dearly is a Mitzvah of Veahavta LeRe’echa Kamocha, but is has to stem from “ for the sake of God.” Therefore, it’s a good idea that if you are doing something nice for another person, such as giving a person a ride, you should think for a moment that you are fulfilling the mitzvah of Veahavta LeRe’echa Kamocha. That will take something ‘nice’ and turn it into a Mitzvah . Have a wonderful day.