“… Hashem will safeguard for you the covenant and the kindness that He swore to your forefathers” (Devarim 7:12).
Our sages tell us that the Jewish people are distinguished with three characteristics – they are merciful, they are bashful, and they do acts of kindness. The third characteristic is, in fact, confirmed by the above-cited pasuk. In addition, Rashi cites the Sifri (Devarim 11:22) “to walk in all His ways,” refers to “just as Hashem is merciful, so too should you be merciful; just as He bestows kindness, so too should you bestow kindness.”
We learn in the fourth chapter of Avos D’Rebbi Nosson that R’ Yochanan ben Zakkai, accompanied by R’ Yehoshua, once left Yerushalayim, they passed by the ruins of the Bais HaMikdash and R’ Yehoshua said: Woe is to us that the Bais HaMikdash is destroyed – a place that atoned for the sins of the Jewish Nation.
R’ Yochanan said to him: My son, do not feel bad. There is redemption that is just like the Bais HaMikdash. It is gemilus chassadim – doing kindness, as it says (Hoshe’a 6:6), “For I desire kindness, not sacrifice…”
The Avos D’Rebbi Nosson elaborates further that Daniel, who was known as ish chamudos – a man of desirable qualities – was deeply involved in gemilus chassadim. He brought joy to the bride and groom, he participated in chesed shel emes, he gave money to the poor, he prayed three times a day and his prayers were accepted by Hashem.
HaRav Dov Landau recounted that one of the disciples of the Chazon Ish was the renowned R’ Moshe Yehoshua Landau. On one occasion, he went to the Chazon Ish to ask him a specific question that would impact on his direction in life. The disciple wanted to know whether he should continue his involvement in chesed work to help the community, as he felt that it came at the cost of his learning, and interrupted his diligence in Torah study.
The Chazon Ish answered him that Torah is not wisdom; it’s a neshama, a soul. When a person does chesed with others, his neshama is elevated, allowing him to understand and grasp Torah more than ever before.
The Mishna in Avos (1:2) states: “The world stands on three things, al haTorah – on Torah study, al ha’avodah – on the service of Hashem, v’al gemilus chassadim – on kind deeds.” The commentaries ask why Torah study and the service of Hashem, and not gemilus chassadim are identified with the heh hayediah – the definite article.
HaGaon R’ Shabse Yigal posits that acts of kindness have no specifications, restrictions or qualifications. A person can always bestow kindness upon another, whether he is rich or poor, whether he seeks recognition for his deeds or not. Torah study and service of Hashem must be more deliberate; one must use common sense in applying himself in these areas. There is no competition or besting of one another; it is not a matter of honor or prestige.
The great Gaon R’ Reuven Grozovsky (1886-1958) noted to his disciples, in a similar vein, that one is obligated to cleave to Hashem, as it says (ibid.) “to walk in all His ways.” Just like Hashem bestows kindnesses gratuitously at every moment in every generation, so too every individual is obligated to constantly be immersed in bestowing kindnesses upon others. On the other hand, if one passes up the opportunity to do chesed three times it signifies that he is not walking in the ways of Hashem, i.e. it is not in his nature. This is comparable to the shor hamu’ad (a forewarned ox). Halachically, if an ox has gored another living creature three times it is presumed that the ox is naturally inclined to harm other living creatures. In such a case, the onus is upon the owner to watch his ox carefully to prevent such an incident, and he is obligated to pay for the damages.
A fourteen-year-old boy who was experiencing serious challenges in life, would often turn to the great Gaon Rav Shach to lift his spirits.
Once, when the boy came to the home of Rav Shach, the Gaon was not feeling well. Nevertheless, Rav Shach lovingly welcomed the boy, and sat down to speak with him for over an hour.
One of the family members questioned Rav Shach. “To what extent is the rosh yeshiva obligated to do this? Not only are you preoccupied with preparing shiurim and caring for the needs of the Jewish People, but now you are not well and you are giving of your time and strength to be busy with a fourteen-year-old boy.
Rav Shach responded: “This bachur has great challenges in life. He was here two weeks ago. He was here a month ago. He will return in another two weeks, and then another month. I encourage him and calm him down, but as of now I don’t see a straightforward way for him to heal; he can only be healed with a miracle.
“When Hashem sees that a Yid who is already elderly, has tremendous communal responsibilities, and ostensibly has no time for such an individual, deviates from the norm and gives so much of his time to an individual in need, Hashem too extends His help outside the natural order of things.”
