What if the most important teaching in the body of Jewish wisdom is right there at the heart of the book, literally at the center of the canon? It’s not only the commandment to love, it’s the instruction to expand our love and empathy above and beyond. Because all you need is? Vav.
Join Rabbi Amichai Lau-Lavie to explore the v’ahavta (or “and you shall love”)—the ethical core of our wisdom tradition, critical to human survival, now more than ever.
04:07 When words get in the way. A childhood stutter, a Torah reading, and the struggle to reconcile inherited teachings with the life you want to live.
13:00 And you shall love. The letter vav invites us to love the parts of ourselves and the people in our lives who are not so easy to love.
24:50 Love in practice. Maimonides turns one verse into acts of kindness.
30:50 Family first, but not family only. What does love ask of us beyond the boundaries of our own community?
Love is a verb, and it’s on us to keep loving. With wisdom from Krista Tippett, Martin Luther King Jr., Elaine Goodfriend, Shai Held, Albert Einstein, and Aurora Levins Morales, Rabbi Amichai asks how we can widen our circles of compassion even when it’s difficult and keep loving the mystery of life.
Alef Bet is a journey through ancestral Jewish wisdom reimagined for right now. Rabbi Amichai Lau-Lavie is the tour guide for your experience. Whether you’re Jewish, Jew-ish, Jew-adjacent, or Jew-curious, this is your starting point. No prior knowledge required—just bring your questions.
Explore more with the Episode 6 Study Guide!