The commutator has the following order theoretic properties: [α, β] ≦ α ∧ β, [α, β] = [β α],[α1 ∨ α2,β] = [α1, β] ∨ [α2, β] for congruences α, β ∈ Con A of an algebra A in a congruence modular variety generalising the original concept in group theory. A tolerance of a lattice L is a reflexive and symmetric sublattice of L2. We show that to every commutator [ , ] of Con A corresponds a ∧-subsemilattice of the lattice of tolerances of Con A. It can be shown that A in a congruence modular variety is nilpotent if |con A| > 2 and Con A is simple.