What is the Opposite of, the Antidote for Sinas Chinam? The Brisker Rav Elucidates the Matter

 What is the antidote for שנאת חינם (loose translation - hate for no reason), the way we can counteract it?

Often we hear (and it was perhaps repeated even more recently during the בין המצרים - three weeks period) a well-known and worn idea that goes like this:

The second Beis Hamikdash was destroyed due to sinas chinam (see Rav Avigdor Miller's explanation of that here, not exactly what you likely grew up with,). In order to have it restored, we need to remove and rectify that problem. Therefore we must practice its opposite, אהבת חינם (loose translation - free love, love for no reason) to merit redemption. This thought is often stated in the name of Rav Avraham Yitzchak Hakohen Kook, Chief Ashkenazic Rabbi of Israel, however it seems to have preceded him and come from a Chasidic leader, R. Yechezkel of Kuzmir.

While that seems quite appealing, and fits easily into the modern zeitgeist in Western countries, in reality, such free love, like the more corporeal "free love" of hippies, anarchists, and other radicals, is dangerous, deceptive, and not in accordance with our tradition. Our holy Torah requires, mandates hatred at times. So the Brisker Rav zt"l pointed out that the opposite of sinas chinam, gratuitous hate, is actually proper enmity, hatred when it is just and warranted, for good cause, like hatred of evil and רשעים.

So to merit geulah, בקרוב אי"ה, let us practice love when it is warranted, and hatred of evil when it is in place. And hopefully soon merit the day when the evil vanishes like smoke, as we daven for during the approaching ימים נוראים.

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