85 Torah Book & Portion, Book of Exodus, Mishpatim (Exodus 21:1-24:18), Source Book Keys, OXFORD EXODUS | 22:26 hear — EXOD727 By attributing love and hate to the sense... EXOD727 By attributing love and hate to the sense of hearing, [Solomon] Ibn Gabirol (c. 1022-1058) teaches in effect that love means hearing the Other and hatred means not to hear him or her. Similarly, he cites God's words, "I will hear for I am merciful" [this verse]. (Ibn Gabirol, The Improvement of Moral Qualities, Arabic text and English translation by Stephen S. Wise (New York: Columbia University Press, 1902), intro., pp. 29-51 (Arabic, 59b-73b). The merciful individual hears the Other, the cruel one does not. Ibn Gabirol observes that the Bible connects the love for God with hearing: "Hear, O Israel ... Thou shalt love the Lord thy God" (Deut 6:4). (Ibid, Arabic, 65b). (By Warren Zev Harvey, “Ethical Theories among Medieval Jewish Philosophers”) Share Print Source KeyOXFORDVerse22:26Keyword(s)hearSource Page(s)88 Switch article EXODUS | 22:26 cries — EXOD726 He who gives alms to a poor man with a ho... Previous Article EXODUS | 22:26 hear — EXOD728 He used to say: Do not go judging alone [... Next Article