Reply To: Bain Adam L'chaveiro Vs. Bain Adam L'makom

Haleivi: “You don’t get Malkos for making fun of your friend but you do get Malkos for charging Ribbis.”

Making fun of your friend is a Lav in the Torah-Ona’as Divorim, not any different than the Lav of Ribbis. Malkus is not a measuring stick to determine the severity of each individual mitzvah.

Demonstrating with your actions a natural love to your fellow, is also a Mitzvas Asaih in the Torah-“V’Uhavta L’reiacha Kamoacha. So is the act of demonstrating natural compassion-“V’Halachta B’drachav-Mah Hu Rachum Af Ata Rachum”.

The mitzvah of Hashavas Aveida in the Torah entails a simple natural meaning-demonstrating care/concern for your fellow; and also an individual mystical essence which Hashem created for it individually. This is what Chaza”l in Pirkei Avos mean when they said “Hevei Zuhir B’Mitzvah Kala K’Bchamura She’ain Ata Yodea Matan Sechara Shel Mitzvos”-meaning each Mitzvah Act of the Torah carries within its own unique mystical essence, hence the reward of each is mitzvah is different in shamayim.

Pirkei Avos discusses only ‘Character’ not actual behavior/ma’asim. However, through understanding Ratzon Hashem as expressed through the Mitzvos Bain Adam L’chaveiro in the Torah, we can conclude that an ultimate wish of Hashem is that we be good hearted people in nature. This is what the Mishna means when it defines Avrohom Avinu as a person with Ayin Tov, Lev Tov and Nefesh Shefaila as opposed to Bilam Harasha-meaning that this is one of the resons why he found favor in Hashem’s eyes and was chosen by Hashem.