The following is a brief summary of some of thoughts on the parshios that R' Frand spoke about in his shiur tonight. I have attempted to reproduce these vorts to the best of my ability. Any perceived inconsistency is the result of my efforts to transcribe the shiur and should not be attributed to R' Frand.
In Vayikra 19:17, the Torah states - לֹֽא־תִשְׂנָ֥א אֶת־אָחִ֖יךָ בִּלְבָבֶ֑ךָ. R' Frand gave an interesting take on the rationale for this mitzva, based on the sefer Milchamos Yehuda, which explained that its instructing you not to hate another because of your sensitive heart.
R' Frand gave an example of someone whose heart feels close to Hashem and it bothers him when he sees someone acting inappropriately towards Hashem. He painted a picture of someone who comes to davening early and dressed in proper attire and he sees someone walk into shul wearing shorts and a tee shirt and baseball cap. He thinks to himself - would this person walk into Court or a business meeting this way?
The limud from the Milchamos Yehuda is that just because you have an elevated level of serving Hashem, dont hate another for not being on your level.
R' Frand tied this into to a pasuk in Divrei HaYamim which states that Hashem seeks and wants all hearts and He understands all people. So don't hate a person who is not on your high level, because Hashem understands all.
R' Frand also tied this into the ma'amar chazal - Havey Dan Es Kol Ha'Adam L'Kaf Zechus - judge all of the person (not every person) to the benefit of the doubt. Because you need to see the whole picture.
R' Frand then told a story about the Chofetz Chayim who was once at an inn where he had a meal. While he was there, another Jew came in and ordered a meal in a gruff manner and looking quite rough around the edges. After he continued to behave in this manner, the Chofetz Chayim was approached by the innkeeper who explained that the man had been conscripted into the Russian army as a small child and this was the result. Many Jews who went through this process converted out, but he had stayed Jewish, albeit with certain rough edges. Armed with this knowledge, the Chofetz Chaim went over to the man and told him that he envied his Olam Haba. Over time the man became close with the Chofetz Chaim and was chozer b'tseshuva.
R' Frand told a more recent story involving a boy who was found smoking in the Ponovich Yeshiva on Shabbos. When they came to R' Shach to ask him to throw the boy out, he asked - do you know his chavrusa, or who his parents are? There must be something going on.
R' Frand then connected this with R' Akiva whose well known statement was V'Ahavta L'Reacha Camocha. R' Frand noted that R' Akiva had the incredible ability to see the good in every sitiuation and perhaps this allowed him to see the good in other people. R' Frand quoted the Gemara in Berachos where R' Akiva could not get a room at the inn and he was forced to go into the field for the night with his candle, chicken and donkey and after losing each item he said Gam Zu L'Tova and he later learned that he had survived a tragedy because of this.
R' Frand tied it into the Gemara which discusses how R' Akiva laughed when he saw the fox leaving the ruin of the Beis Hamikdash - again based on his ability to see the positive in each situation.
R' Frand next quoted R' Yosher Ber Soloveitchik who explained the last mishna in Yoma wherein R' Akiva said Ashreichem Lifnei M'i Atem M'taharim and M'i Mitaher Eschem. R' Akiva had seen what a true Yom Kippur was, complete with the Avodah of the Kohain Gadol on Yom Kippur and he also saw the post Churban Yom Kippur. By saying the Ashreichem, he was telling the Jews - you dont need a Beis HaMikdash to get tahara - because Hashem will be M'taher you Himself.
R' Frand said that this comes from the essence of R' Akiva - he saw 24,000 of his students die, but he did not give up. He took five students and they restarted the learning of the Torah, because he always saw the good and could see the good in every person.
R' Frand quoted the R' Gershom on Bava Basra 12b who said that there was never a person like R' Akiva. R' Frand said that was because R' Akiva always saw the good and could love every single Jew.
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