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Kolot: Voices from The Ark Synagogue

Kolot: Voices from The Ark Synagogue

Learning to Love

Aug 1, 2026 · 9 min · 7 segments

In this episode the speaker explores how love in Judaism is a commanded act of noticing and protecting the other, using a chance encounter with Layla on the Tube to illustrate the Torah’s call to love…

In this episode the speaker explores how love in Judaism is a commanded act of noticing and protecting the other, using a chance encounter with Layla on the Tube to illustrate the Torah’s call to love the stranger. Listeners will hear connections between the Tu b’Av festival, the biblical injunction to love the ger, and the Talmudic story of love emerging after mourning, and will be invited to consider how compassion can replace indifference in everyday life. [**★ Support this podcast ★**](https://www.arksynagogue.org/ "★ Support this podcast ★")

In this episode the speaker explores how love in Judaism is a commanded act of noticing and protecting the other, using a chance encounter with Layla on the Tube to illustrate the Torah’s call to love…

Speakers: Lea MühlsteinHost

Top entities: Torah×9 Love×7 Moses×5 Judaism×4 God×9

Spotify Apple Podcasts YouTube Amazon Music Website

Show signals: SuitabilitySafeBiasNot politicalAudience≈2k followers

The Jewish Festival of Love and the Command to Love0:30 – 1:54

Lea MühlsteinHost

0:30

This week, we celebrated Tu B'Av, known as the Jewish Festival of Love, as we have said many times during this Shabbat.

Lea MühlsteinHost

0:41

Love is one of those words we think we understand.

Lea MühlsteinHost

0:46

We speak about falling in love, romantic love, love of family and of friends.

Lea MühlsteinHost

0:53

Yet the Torah commands us to practice a deeper, more demanding and ultimately more transformative love.

Lea MühlsteinHost

1:04

Love in Judaism is rarely described as something that simply happens to us.

Lea MühlsteinHost

1:12

It is something we are commanded to do.

Lea MühlsteinHost

1:15

Again and again, Torah speaks of love as a commandment.

Lea MühlsteinHost

1:21

Love the stranger, love the eternal God.

Lea MühlsteinHost

1:25

Love is a difficult choice made again and again.

Lea MühlsteinHost

1:30

Elie Wiesel expressed that truth in a memorable and known phrase.

Lea MühlsteinHost

1:38

The opposite of love is not hate, is indifference.

Lea MühlsteinHost

1:43

Love is not simply a feeling.

Lea MühlsteinHost

1:46

It is the decision to notice another human being.

Lea MühlsteinHost

1:51

And that is the lesson I learned from a stranger.

TorahBook SeriesScripture
97%9 mentions
LoveEntity
92%7 mentions
MosesPersonTeacher
87%5 mentions
JudaismEntityReligion
82%4 mentions
GodEntitySupreme being
76%9 mentions
Tu B'AvEntityHoliday
71%6 mentions
TalmudEntityBook
66%3 mentions
Elie WieselPersonRomanian-American writer
61%2 mentions
MishnahBookBook
55%1 mention
London UndergroundTourist AttractionMass transportation system
50%1 mention
EikevEntity
45%1 mention
ShabbatEntityDay of week
39%1 mention
Tisha B'AvEntityHoliday
34%1 mention
English peopleEntityEthnic group
29%1 mention
EritreaCountryCountry in East Africa
21%1 mention
QatarCountryCountry in the Middle East
21%1 mention
EgyptCountryCountry
13%1 mention
DevarimEntity
8%1 mention
JerusalemCityCapital of Israel
3%1 mention

Society
Types of LoveRelationships > Love
TraditionsSociety > Cultural Practices
CompassionSociety > Community
Tu B'AvReligion > Judaism > Festivals
Jewish TeachingsReligion
TorahReligion > Jewish Teachings
Interpersonal RelationshipsSociety > Community > Compassion
CommunitySociety
JudaismReligion
LoveRelationships
Cultural PracticesSociety
FestivalsReligion > Judaism
Religion
Relationships
LoveReligion > Judaism > Festivals > Tu B'Av
StrangersSociety > Community > Compassion > Interpersonal Relationships
Transformative LoveRelationships > Love > Types of Love
Compassionate LoveRelationships > Love > Types of Love > Transformative Love
CommandmentsReligion > Jewish Teachings > Torah
Love CommandmentsReligion > Jewish Teachings > Torah > Commandments
Mourning and GriefSociety > Cultural Practices > Traditions
Renewal through LoveSociety > Cultural Practices > Traditions > Mourning and Grief

The Jewish Festival of Love and the Command to Love0:30 – 1:54

Lea MühlsteinHost

0:30

This week, we celebrated Tu B'Av, known as the Jewish Festival of Love, as we have said many times during this Shabbat.

Lea MühlsteinHost

0:41

Love is one of those words we think we understand.

Lea MühlsteinHost

0:46

We speak about falling in love, romantic love, love of family and of friends.

Lea MühlsteinHost

0:53

Yet the Torah commands us to practice a deeper, more demanding and ultimately more transformative love.

Lea MühlsteinHost

1:04

Love in Judaism is rarely described as something that simply happens to us.

Lea MühlsteinHost

1:12

It is something we are commanded to do.

Lea MühlsteinHost

1:15

Again and again, Torah speaks of love as a commandment.

Lea MühlsteinHost

1:21

Love the stranger, love the eternal God.

Lea MühlsteinHost

1:25

Love is a difficult choice made again and again.

Lea MühlsteinHost

1:30

Elie Wiesel expressed that truth in a memorable and known phrase.

Lea MühlsteinHost

1:38

The opposite of love is not hate, is indifference.

Lea MühlsteinHost

1:43

Love is not simply a feeling.

Lea MühlsteinHost

1:46

It is the decision to notice another human being.

Lea MühlsteinHost

1:51

And that is the lesson I learned from a stranger.

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