Reply To: The Wicked Son, and the Kiruv System

(1) If your best friend (friend of forty three years, been through fire and water together, blah blah…) went and murdered your three sons in cold blood, would your ‘unconditional love’ still be unconditional? Or would that be enough reason to terminate your relationship?

“Unconditional love” means that the relationship is not built upon any expectations or requirements; failing to meet a standard would not impact on the relationship. But things can happen that ruin relationships, even those that are NOT תלוייה בדבר.

(2) Let’s say you are correct; you continue loving a child no matter what. Change the subject from “Love”; talk about unconditional “understanding, acceptance, support”. Sometimes the Torah forces us to curb our emotions and act differently to the way we would like to. If showing understanding and support is an Issur De’Oraysa of Chanifa (Flattery) — See Rabbeinu Yonah Shaarei Teshuva for the severity of this issur – it could be possible that you are required to keep your love under wraps and stop any expression of aforementioned emotions.