Rabbi Yishmael, a sage whose words still resonate across centuries, puts it starkly: "Come and see what hatred causes." What does it cause? It leads to lashon hara — slander. As it says in Deuteronomy 22:14, regarding a man who falsely accuses his wife, "And he libel her and give out about her an evil name." It starts with a whispered word, a seed of doubt planted in someone's mind, and before you know it, reputations are ruined, relationships shattered.
But it doesn't stop there.
The Sifrei Devarim draws a direct line, a frighteningly logical progression, from neglecting what might seem like a "light" mitzvah (commandment) to violating a far more serious one. It's like a slippery slope, but instead of snow, it's paved with increasingly harmful actions.
The text uses the fundamental commandment of love as its cornerstone. Remember Vayikra (Leviticus) 19:18, “And you shall love your neighbor as yourself”? That's the starting point. When we fail in this, the consequences are dire.
What happens when we fail to love our neighbor? Well, according to the Sifrei Devarim, we are then destined to transgress the prohibitions that immediately follow it: "You shall not take revenge… and you shall not bear a grudge” (Leviticus 19:18). These are all interconnected. The lack of love breeds resentment, and resentment festers into revenge.
And it gets worse.
It continues, "You shall not hate your brother" (Leviticus 19:17). Notice how the commandments build upon each other? First, a failure to actively love. Then, the passive harboring of grudges. And finally, the active emotion of hate. The slope is getting steeper.
The text doesn't stop there. It mentions "And your brother shall live with you" (Leviticus 25:36). This refers to the obligation to support and care for our fellow human beings. Hatred erodes our sense of shared humanity, making it harder to empathize and assist those in need.
Where does it all lead? All the way "to the spilling of blood." The ultimate act of violence, the ultimate expression of hatred. The text concludes that "This is the intent of 'If a man take a wife, etc.'" referring back to the initial example of slander and its destructive consequences. The Sifrei Devarim sees a thread connecting these seemingly disparate scenarios.
It’s a chilling thought, isn't it? That a failure to embrace love, a seemingly small act of negativity, can ultimately lead to such devastating outcomes. It’s a powerful reminder of the importance of actively cultivating love, empathy, and forgiveness in our lives.
So, what can we learn from this ancient wisdom? Perhaps it's a call to be more mindful of our thoughts and actions, to actively choose love over hate, understanding over judgment. Because, as the Sifrei Devarim so powerfully illustrates, the consequences of letting hatred take root can be far more devastating than we might ever imagine.