(Editor's Note: The Hebrew letters Bet and Vet, respectively producing the "b" sound and the "v" sound, are written identically in a Torah scroll. The Bet and Vet may be best conceived as one letter with two pronounciations. The letter Vav also produces the "v" sound in certain Hebrew pronunciation systems.)
This past week was the aniversity of the Alter Rebbe of Chabad's release from prison on YaT Kislev (the 19th of the month Kislev). So here is a quick story about the Alter Rebbe…
In every parashah, the Alter Rebbe found the mitzvah of "ve'ahavtah lare'acha kamocha" (love your neighbor as yourself). It was Parashat Balak, and one of the chasidim said to the Alter Rebbe, 'Where is this mitzvah found in this parsha?' The Rebbe replied, 'That's easy the Bet of "Balaq" stands for the "Ve'ahavtah", the Lamed stands for "lare'ach", and the Quf stands for "kamocha".' The chasid replied, 'But Rebbe those are the wrong letters! The letters that begin "ve`ahavtah lare'ach kamocha" are Vav, Lamed, and Chaf.' To this the Alter Rebbe replied, 'If you are going to find all the little things wrong, you won't ve'ahavta lare'acha kamocha.'
May this Shabbat be a time where we overlook all the little things and see with open eyes the greater good in people and life. L'Chaim! Shabbat Shalom!