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For example, there was once a very educated person who told Rav Cherki that even though he became more religious, he stayed communist. The reason is simple: the only movement that ever spoke to his ideals of social justice, was communism. And even if communism has been proven as false both on an economical and moral level, he could not let go of this ideal because it held a spark of truth that he could not find anywhere else. If he would leave communism, he would leave this truth. He did not find in the beit midrash anyone speaking of such social justice. The way to talk to such a person is not through Kiruv Rechokim - Showing him why you are right and he is wrong, showing him how communism is wrong. No! The way is through Kiruv Levavot - Learning from him where he is right, the importance of social justice, and then showing yourself how it fits perfectly within the structure of Authentic Judaism, understanding that maybe you have put too much emphasis in your own life on making people wear tfillin without putting any emphasis on social justice. Through this, not only may he possibly do tshouva, but you might also do Tshouva by being more in tune with the values of social justice expressed in Torah!

Let us not forget that we all want to do teshuva. Teshuva is not just for the secular. Therefore, an honest religious person should yearn to learn from every single person in order to better himself and get to the whole truth.

Real Kiruv - Kiruv Levavot - is one in which we are also brought closer to God through what we learn from the other. Through learning from his ideals, we also get closer to each other.

(To be continued …)