סימן קס"ה-ואהבת לרעך וכו'

For we find rea in tzeirei is also the language of evil — as it is written: "and the Egyptians did evil to us [vayarei'u osanu haMitzrim]." And likewise: "do not harm us [al tare'u lanu], my brothers." And many similar usages. And likewise merei'im are evil persons — as: "when evildoers [merei'im] draw near against me." And similar usages. And the mereiim of Shimshon — — are the language of companions and friends [rei'im]. And we find in the words of the Sages: — regarding Rabbi Elazar ben Rabbi Shimon — who called his afflictions and said to them: "come — my brothers and my friends." And the Chiddushei Aggados there wrote: he called them his brothers and friends since he received them with love. And so on. And likewise in our above discourse: since Rabbainu explained: "and you shall love your neighbor [rei'acha]" — meaning: that one should receive with love all the evils and afflictions that come upon him. And since he receives them with love — they are truly called companions and beloved friends as above. And see Tamura, p. 16: "and you shall do evil [ure'asita meriah]" — that fitting friends [rei'im] shall be prepared for me. It follows that he expounds re'ah [evil] from the language of fellowship [rei'us]. And see Chagigah, p. 16: "do not believe in a friend [rea] who expounds" — like ra with a patach [meaning: evil]. And see in Pri Etz Chaim, Sha'ar HaLimud — on the matter of the Shabbas day — where this verse is also interpreted on this matter — only in a different manner. For we fi nd rea in tzeirei is also the language of evil — as it is written: [Deuteronomy 26] "and the Egyptians did evil to us [vayarei'u osanu haMitzrim]." And likewise: [Genesis 26] "do not harm us [al tare'u lanu], my brothers." And many similar usages. And likewise merei'im are evil persons — as: [Psalms 27] "when evildoers [merei'im] draw near against me." And similar usages. And the mereiim of Shimshon — [Judges 14] — are the language of companions and friends [rei'im]. And we find in the words of the Sages: [Bava Metzia 84b] — regarding Rabbi Elazar ben Rabbi Shimon — who called his afflictions and said to them: "come — my brothers and my friends." And the Chiddushei Aggados there wrote: he called them his brothers and friends since he received them with love. And so on. And likewise in our above discourse: since Rabbainu explained: [Leviticus 19] "and you shall love your neighbor [rei'acha]" — meaning: that one should receive with love all the evils and afflictions that come upon him. And since he receives them with love — they are truly called companions and beloved friends as above. And see Tamura, p. 16: [1 Chronicles 4] "and you shall do evil [ure'asita meriah]" — that fitting friends [rei'im] shall be prepared for me. It follows that he expounds re'ah [evil] from the language of fellowship [rei'us]. And see Chagigah, p. 16: "do not believe in a friend [rea] who expounds" — like ra with a patach [meaning: evil]. And see in Pri Etz Chaim, Sha'ar HaLimud — on the matter of the Shabbas day — where this verse is also interpreted on this matter — only in a different manner.