When we return our torah to the ark, we often sing the following words, “Al sh’losha d’varim, ha-olam omed: al ha-Torah, v’al ha-Avodah, v’al gimilut chasadim” (poetically translated as, “The world is sustained by three things: Torah study, service to God, and acts of chesed.) We often translate chesed as “loving kindness,” but this only gets us half way there. Certainly chesed means to reach out to others, but it goes much further. Chesed requires that we extend ourselves even when we might not want to do so. An act of chesed is one in which we give of ourselves without an expectation of anything in return – even an expression of acknowledgement or thanks.
Caring for the sick is considered an act of chesed,. Visiting the bereaved is an act of chesed. Protecting our environment can even be considered an act of chesed.
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At the same time, we are encouraged to follow the teaching from Pirkei Avot: “Ben Zoma said, ‘Who is wise? The one who learns from everyone . . . Who is mighty? One who controls one’s [natural] urges . . . Who is rich? One who is happy with what one has . . . Who is honored? One who honors others . . .’”
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Alan Morinis tells the following story:
“I once heard Rabbi Abraham Yachnes clarify the extent of the stretch that is necessary to have an action qualify as chesed. He said that if you are walking down the street and someone is walking beside you carrying a large box, and you offer to help the person carry the box, that’s not chesed. You’d simply be a terrible person not to help someone in that situation. What counts as chesed .is when you are walking the opposite way from someone carrying a burden and you turn around to help carry that load in the direction he or she is going. That’s chesed.”
At TAE, the month of February is dedicated to “loving kindness” / “chesed”. May we all commit ourselves to acts of chesed, – of sustaining one another with our love and kindness.
Rabbi Ted Riter
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L' Shalom,
Rabbi Ted Riter - Senior Rabbi
