Where can I find discussions on the topic of ואהבת לרעך כמוך being a commandment to express and feel an emotion.
The underlying question is, How can we be commanded to feel a certain way? (This is unlike a commandment to do, or refrain from something)
Here is an example. You are commanded to rejoice on holidays. How can you rejoice when you don’t feel like rejoicing? Our Sages give us six ways:
-First, go through the motions required by the holiday.
-Second, think of something special you can get for yourself. [Pesaḥim 109a]
-Third, do something different. [Shabbat 119a]
-Fourth, surround yourself with family, friends and community. [Deuteronomy 16:13-14]
-Fifth, consider it your duty to make sure they rejoice. [Pesaḥim 109a]
-Sixth, try to focus on only one source for rejoicing at a time. [Moed Katan 8b]
It's not simple to say the mitzva of viahavta is to express emotion. The gemara Shabbos 31a says it means dont do to someone else what you dont like to happen to you. Gemara baba kama 51a says by giving death in court, to give him easy death because of viahavta. We don't find anywhere straight out in shas that viahvta means you have to use emotions (Closest place might be kiddushin 41a, but it's not so clear).We find it only refers to actions. In matter of fact the Tosefes Bracha says it only means actions. He says even when the Torah commands to love hashem, the Rambam says thats the mitzva to daven to hashem. He even says the reason why chazal learned it's reffering to actions, because the Torah can't command you to use your emotions, since its not in your control.
