Judaism is about LOVE

As we transition out of our busy month of Tishrei and settle into the rhythms of our new Jewish year, I find myself reaching for books that deepen my understanding of what it means to live a Jewish life. Recently, I’ve been reading Judaism is About Love by Shai Held, a profound exploration of love as the heart of Jewish tradition. Held, a theologian and rabbi, suggests that love—between people, between us and Adonai, and even within oneself—is the foundation of all Jewish values and practices.

Held invites us to see love as more than an abstract ideal; he sees it as the very ground of Jewish life. When we delve into Torah through this lens, the text begins to reveal itself as a divine call toward empathy, connection, and compassion. Mitzvot are not merely obligations to check off a list, Held argues, but rather pathways to building genuine relationships with others and with The Source of All. Each mitzvah becomes an opportunity to expand our hearts, to move beyond self-interest, and to embrace a life marked by kindness, patience, and a profound respect for the dignity of every person.

In his writing, Held invites us to consider how the act of love might shape our understanding of justice and repair. Love, for him, is not a passive sentiment; it is a transformative force that drives us toward tikkun olam—the repair of our world and its move toward (re)alignment. In a time when polarization and suffering feel increasingly present, Held’s words serve as a reminder that each of us holds the potential to be agents of compassion, both within and beyond our community. 

• How might we extend love in ways that soften our judgments of one another? 

• How might this principle of love call us to advocate for those who are most vulnerable among us?

As I reflect on Held’s teachings, I wonder about the ways we can bring this vision of love into our own lives:

• How might we respond to life’s daily frustrations, big or small, from a place of understanding rather than reaction? 

When we encounter someone who challenges us or holds a differing perspective, can we ask ourselves, “what would it mean to love this person?”…Not to agree with them, necessarily, but to honour their humanity in a way that strengthens the bonds of our shared world. 

• And how can we, as a sacred Jewish community, model this radical commitment to love for each other?

Let us enter this next Hebrew month of Cheshvan with these questions at the forefront and consider how we can deepen our practice of love here at the Danforth Jewish Circle. In our responses to each other, our work in the world, and even in our inner dialogues, we have the opportunity to create a culture of care that echoes the best of what Held illuminates in his work.