Question: The great Kabbalist of the 20^th century, Baal HaSulam, writes that there is only one commandment: “Love thy neighbor.” On the other hand, in the article “The Peace” he says that there are two more commandments: reception and bestowal. Then he writes that there are 10 commandments in the Torah, seven commandments of Noah, 620 commandments that the sages talk about. So, how many of these commandments are there in total? How can one understand this gradation?

Answer: I would say that 620 commandments are indeed a lot. The main one among them is “Love thy neighbor as yourself.” As Rabbi Akiva said: “This is the whole Torah.”

And the rest of the commandments are just its explanation. Strangely enough, the commandment “Love thy neighbor as yourself” includes absolutely all the laws of the world, light, nature, and the Creator.

Question: Strange indeed. Let’s say, if we take the commandments of Kashrut, how are they related to love for one’s neighbor, or how can they help us attain this love?

Answer: There is nothing strange about it; it can be understood. Ultimately, we will come to a state where it becomes clear to us that all the commandments were as if dictated to a person by the upper force, and if he fulfills them, he will begin to approach the Creator.
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From KabTV’s “Spiritual States” 11/21/23

Related Material:
Love As The Law Of Nature
On The Way Towards Love
“‘Love your neighbor as yourself’. Do we really practice this in the world today?”(Quora)

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