By Leibel Estrin
Vayikra 19:18, the Torah commands us ‘You shall love your fellow like yourself.’ This is the mitzvah of Ahavas Yisroel, “love of a fellow Jew.” According to Rabbi Akiva, it represents a cardinal principle of the Torah.
Kabbalah and Chassidus explain that the souls of Jewish people are a “portion” of G-d, their Creator. This means that the souls of all Jews share the same source. Therefore, the commandment “love your fellow Jew as yourself” can be taken literally, because your fellow Jew is part of yourself. In fact, our sages have said that the Jewish people make up one spiritual body. The rabbis serve as the “eyes” of the congregation. Those who are involved with the needs of the community are the “hands.” Those who financially support Torah scholars are called the “legs.”
The point is, the Jewish people are truly one. Every person is important and no person is more important than any other. Nine Moses’ could not form a minyan. Ten Jews who may not have learned Hebrew can. In fact, our sages say that the Divine Presence hovers over 10 Jews without exception.
In Judaism: Thought and Legend, Rabbi Meir Meiseles writes,
“What lies at the root of peace, happiness and everything which is good and beautiful in the world? The invariable answer would be love. Not a superabundance of sentiment gushing out upon everyone, nor ostentatious philanthropy, but a simple, impartial, warm feeling of kinship with everyone, irrespective of person and place, a feeling which is nurtured on the knowledge that everyone is a living soul, that everyone resembles ourselves and is our natural brother.[1]”
Our sages taught that the Holy Temple in Jerusalem was destroyed because people hated each other without reason. Showing love, sensitivity, and respect to others above and beyond reason can help rebuild it, speedily in our days.
Acts of Kindness
Gemilas Chassadim means acts of loving kindness. The Torah states, “After the L-rd your G-d shall you walk…and unto Him shall you cleave.” (Deut. 13:5). Our rabbis wonder how it is possible for a human being to copy the Divine Presence?”
They answer that the commandment to “walk after the L-rd your G-d” means to mimic His attributes and ways. For example, as G-d is called merciful and gracious, so should you be merciful and gracious. As G-d clothed Adam and Eve who were naked, so should you clothe those in need. As G-d visited Abraham after he was circumcised, so should you visit the sick. As G-d comforted Isaac over the passing of Sarah, so should you comfort mourners.
On the surface, the mitzvah of Gemilas Chassadim is similar to tzedokah. However, tzedakah typically refers to helping the less fortunate with their physical and spiritual needs. The mitzvah of performing acts of kindness applies to the poor and the rich, to the living and for those who passed on, to those who deserve and those who do not. And while the Rabbis set limits to the amount of money we should give to tzedokah (so that we shouldn’t become poor), there’s no limit to the acts of kindness that we could, or should, perform.
What acts qualify as gemilas chassadim? In general, the mitzvah covers any kind of personal service that we perform for another. Typically these include:
- Loaning money or any an object without charging a fee or interest
- Providing hospitality
- Visiting and comforting the sick
- Soothing those in need
- Helping a bride and groom
- Burying the dead
- Comforting mourners
- Restoring peace between husband and wife, employer and employee, neighbor and friend
Our sages claim that the world stands on three things: Torah, Avodah (prayer), and Gemilas Chassadim. The Talmud and Jewish history are filled with many examples of people who excelled in this mitzvah. For example, the Gemara (Yerushalmi, Shekalim 5.4) writes that a blind person once visited the home of Rabbi Eliezer ben Jacob. Rabbi Eliezer placed the blind man at the head of his table, while he sat among his other guests. Those guests naturally assumed that the blind man was an important person. As a result, they gave him gifts and large donations so that he could live without worry. They were shocked when the blind man asked, “Why do you honor me so much?” They replied, “If Rabbi Eliezer ben Jacob sits below you at his table, should we not honor you, as well?” The blind man then told Rabbi Eliezer the following, “You have performed an act of kindness for one who is seen but cannot see; therefore, you will be blessed by Him Who sees, yet cannot be seen.”
Rabbi Shneur Zalman of Liadi was a master of both the revealed and mystical parts of the Torah and Rebbe of many Chassidim. On Yom Kippur, Rabbi Shneur Zalman led the prayers of the congregation. However soon after the services began on one particular Yom Kippur, Rabbi Shneur Zalman left the synagogue and disappeared into the night. After a while, he returned and continued to lead the congregation. Later, the community found out what had happened. A young wife had just given birth and her husband had gone to the shul. She and her newborn were alone, and once the candles and fire had gone out, the house had become quite dark and cold. In his holiness, Rabbi Zalman heard her “cries” for help. So he, stopped his petitions before G-d, left the synagogue, and visited the poor and lonely mother and her child. There, he arranged a fire and prepared something warm for the mother. Only then did he return to the services.
According to our sages, G-d prefers kind deeds more than the sacrifices that were offered in the Holy Temple, as Hosea writes (6.6) “For acts of kindness I desired and not sacrifice.”
Words of Wisdom
Rabbi Israel Baal Shem Tov, the founder of Chassidism, states that “The love of Israel is the love of G-d, as the Torah (Deut.14:1) says, ‘You are children of the L-rd your G-d.’ And when one loves the Father, one loves the children.”
An excerpt from the book “Judaism From Above The Clouds.”
Leibel Estrin has been writing about Jewish topics for four decades. He is working as a Jewish chaplain for the Aleph Institute. Leibel has recently published a work on Jewish perspectives and values entitled “Judaism From Above The Clouds.” To read more of Leibel’s writings and to purchase his book click here.
[1] Judaism Thought and Legend; Meiseles, Rabbi Meir, Feldheim, Jerusalem, 1977, p. 14
