We continue with the words of the Avot D’Rabi Natan, which the Bet HaLevi quotes, about why the words Ani Hashem follow Ve’Ahavta L’Re’echa Kamocha/ Love your friend like you love yourself.
He explains that the term Ani Hashem/I Am God is used to signify that Hashem will reward and punish. The Midrash says Hashem is saying , “If you love him (your friend), I am loyal to reward and if not, I am a judge to pay.”
We see this concept when Hashem first speaks to Moshe Rabbenu.
In Shemot ( perek ו, pasuk ב) it says “Vayomer Elav, Ani Hashem/ God said to him, I am Hashem.”
Rashi says that it means, “I am loyal to pay reward to those that go in front of Me.”
In other words, Ani Hashem means, “I will pay.”
The Ravad further explains that the term Ani Hashem is used when referring to something in the heart, something only Hashem know about, (and something He will reward or punish.)
So Hashem adds these two words, Ani Hashem, so that we shouldn’t think that Ve’Ahavta LeRe’echa Kamocha is just an internal fleeting thought. On the contrary, Hashem is aware of it, and He rewards and punishes for every thought.
As we said at the start of this series, there is a great degree of potential for either positivity or severity with this Mitzvah. A person can consistently repeat this sin, or conversely, he can consistently perform this Mitzvah. There is no end to how often it happens, because you don’t need any materials for it, and it doesn’t need to be at a specific time of day.
It happens within your heart, at all times, and Hashem is watching and rewarding accordingly.
Our final explanation for why it says Ani Hashem is from the Sefer Mesudat David ( Mitzvah י״ג), by the Ridvaz.
He quotes the pasuk, “Don’t forsake your friend, or the friend of your father.”
Who is this friend of your father? Hashem. He has been a ‘friend of the family’ going all the way back to Abraham Yitzhak and Yaakov. So, “If you love your friends down here, it’s like you love God,” and the opposite.
Ve’Ahavta L’Re’echa Kamocha Ani Hashem means, “Love your friend, and by loving your friend it means loving Me as well.”
Have a wonderful day.