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CHAPTER THIRTEEN:
A FINAL WORD
Each of us has a choice when confronting tragedy. We may instinctively wish to pretend we don't notice anything: "It's not my concern." "There are others, professionals and close friends, who can do a better job than I can." We may wish to hide, for who wants to be exposed to such pain? To be confronted with our own fears? To be the kind of person described in Don Quixote: Someone who "give[s] when it's natural to take."
Those who succeed in overcoming this barrier of fear and reluctance find that such "illogical," unsolicited acts of loving kindness give us a tremendous sense of warmth and gratification at having done what we instinctively know is right.
The Talmudic sages tell us that "The world stands on three pillars: Torah, avodah and gemilut chasadim (Torah, prayer, and acts of loving kindness) (Avot 1:2). The word chesed (the singular of chasadim) is translated as kindness and gemilut is interpreted as "giving" or "recompense." When we put the two words together, it translates as "giving of kindness." The sages stress that gemilut chasadim is more than just giving but rather an "act of loving kindness."
What is the difference? Chesed is considered more worthy than giving charity. Charity is given with one's hands (especially when giving money)- it is a physical action. An act of kindness, however, goes beyond a mere physical deed; it involves an investment of your self.
Continuing in this vein, the sages ask why Torah and avodah are written in the singular, and chasadim in the plural. Their response is that when you do good for another, you are doing something for yourself as well." The consequence of an act of chesed is that it often leads to emulation by others. In short - everyone benefits.
A wealthy man once approached his rabbi. "Rabbi, how do I gain entrance to Gan Eden (heaven)?" The rabbi thought and said, "You must do three things: Give to the poor, take care of the sick, and bury the dead."
The rich man left the rabbi. On his way home he met a crippled beggar. He invited to his house to eat. "Ah," thought the rich man, "I've already accomplished the first step."
Unfortunately, the poor man became sick because he'd been given too much food. So the rich man put him to bed and gave him some home-made medicine. "Great!" reflected the rich man, "I have now completed two steps." But alas, the medicine was the wrong kind, and the poor man died that very night. The rich man was aghast and quickly arranged the funeral.
Later that night, after the funeral, he stood at the entrance to his house, gazed up at the sky, and exclaimed, "Thank you God for making it so easy for me to gain entrance into heaven!"
For the rest of us, it isn't so easy.
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