Kedoshim | לא תקום ולא תטור - Vengeance AND/OR/ON ACCOUNT OF Bearing a Grudge, by Rav Yitzchak Etshalom

The crescendo of laws governing interpersonal relationships is undoubtedly "You shall love your fellow as yourself" - ואהבת לרעך כמוך. This command is prefaced with an unusual pair of prohibitions - לא תקום ולא תטור את בני עמך - "Do not take vengeance nor hold a grudge against the members of your people." (Lev. 19:18). Are these two independent restrictions or part of a more expansive prohibition? Although the Rishonim reckoned them as two לאוין, there are several Midrashic comments as well as both legal and exegetical comments that seem to indicate a seamless unity between them. We explore the passage, in its context and suggest a new perspective on the entire pericope of Lev. 19:17-18.

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