How do you reconcile the need to love others as yourself with the rule in the Talmud, “if someone comes to kill you, rise up and kill him first”?

On one hand, the law of love, bestowal and connection is the fundamental law of nature, and it holds utmost importance for our foundation and construction, and the basis upon which the whole of humanity exists. Aiming ourselves at acquiring the qualities of love, bestowal and connection in human relations leads us to balance with the laws of nature, which is the key to achieving a harmonious and peaceful life.

On the other hand, the Babylonian Talmud presents us with the rule: “If someone comes to kill you, rise up and kill him first,” which appears to challenge the aforementioned principle. What does this statement mean, and how does it work together with the need to apply an attitude of love and bestowal to human connections?

The Talmud advises us to forestall those who come to kill us, and it is an obligation to do so due to our covenant with the Creator—the very force of love and bestowal to which we direct ourselves through our connections to each other.

When it comes to people who actively seek to harm us, there can be no room for acting toward them out of love. The Talmud itself states simply what we need to do in such a situation: If someone comes to kill you, then you must first rise and defend yourself in order to destroy the one who came to kill you.

Such people are considered enemies, and relating to them lovingly, compassionately or even with an attitude of trying to make peace with them is completely out of the question. There can be no love and peace with those who hate you and wish for your death. We need to first rid ourselves of these adversaries before negotiating with those who remain. It is a straightforward rule and there is nothing out of the ordinary with regard to its observance.

In essence, the fundamental principles of love, bestowal and positively connecting to others should guide our interactions, but these principles do not extend to those who harbor malice toward us and pose a direct threat to our lives.

Based on KabTV’s “News with Dr. Michael Laitman” with Kabbalist Dr. Michael Laitman and Semion Vinokur on October 16, 2023. Written/edited by students of Kabbalist Dr. Michael Laitman.

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