Rabbi Shlomo of Karlin: The Reach of Hashem's Love

I wish that I could love the most righteous person in Israel as much as the Blessed Holy One loves the most evil person in Israel.

Attribution printed on the image: Rabbi Shlomo of Karlin

A reflection on the teaching

The comparison in this saying challenges the limits of our own love. We may find it easy to value someone we admire and difficult to see a person whose choices trouble us. The teaching invites humility about that difference. Loving a person does not mean approving every action or abandoning boundaries. It means leaving room for dignity, concern and the possibility of return. When we are quick to write someone off, we can ask whether there is a humane response available alongside the necessary judgment of their behavior.

Source note: The attribution above is transcribed from the image. The exact source and English wording have not been independently verified.