Torat Hessed | ספריא

תהילים פ״ט:ב׳-ג׳

חַֽסְדֵ֣י ה' עוֹלָ֣ם אָשִׁ֑ירָה לְדֹ֥ר וָדֹ֓ר ׀ אוֹדִ֖יעַ אֱמוּנָתְךָ֣ בְּפִֽי׃ כִּֽי־אָמַ֗רְתִּי ע֭וֹלָם חֶ֣סֶד יִבָּנֶ֑ה שָׁמַ֓יִם ׀ תָּכִ֖ן אֱמוּנָתְךָ֣ בָהֶֽם׃

Psalms 89:2-3

I will sing of the LORD’s steadfast love forever; to all generations I will proclaim Your faithfulness with my mouth. I declare, “Your steadfast love is confirmed forever; there in the heavens You establish Your faithfulness.”

סוטה י״ד א:ג׳-ו׳

ואמר רבי חמא ברבי חנינא מאי דכתיב (דברים יג, ה) אחרי ה' אלקיכם תלכו וכי אפשר לו לאדם להלך אחר שכינה והלא כבר נאמר (דברים ד, כד) כי ה' אלקיך אש אוכלה הוא אלא להלך אחר מדותיו של הקב"ה מה הוא מלביש ערומים דכתיב (בראשית ג, כא) ויעש ה' אלקים לאדם ולאשתו כתנות עור וילבישם אף אתה הלבש ערומים הקב"ה ביקר חולים דכתיב (בראשית יח, א) וירא אליו ה' באלוני ממרא אף אתה בקר חולים הקב"ה ניחם אבלים דכתיב (בראשית כה, יא) ויהי אחרי מות אברהם ויברך אלקים את יצחק בנו אף אתה נחם אבלים הקב"ה קבר מתים דכתיב (דברים לד, ו) ויקבר אותו בגיא אף אתה קבור מתים...
דרש ר' שמלאי תורה תחלתה גמילות חסדים וסופה גמילות חסדים תחילתה גמילות חסדים דכתיב ויעש ה' אלקים לאדם ולאשתו כתנות עור וילבישם וסופה גמילות חסדים דכתיב ויקבר אותו בגיא

Sotah 14a:3-6

And Rabbi Ḥama, son of Rabbi Ḥanina, says: What is the meaning of that which is written: “After the Lord your God shall you walk, and Him shall you fear, and His commandments shall you keep, and unto His voice shall you hearken, and Him shall you serve, and unto Him shall you cleave” (Deuteronomy 13:5)?
But is it actually possible for a person to follow the Divine Presence? But hasn’t it already been stated: “For the Lord your God is a devouring fire, a jealous God” (Deuteronomy 4:24), and one cannot approach fire. He explains: Rather, the meaning is that one should follow the attributes of the Holy One, Blessed be He.
He provides several examples. Just as He clothes the naked, as it is written: “And the Lord God made for Adam and for his wife garments of skin, and clothed them” (Genesis 3:21), so too, should you clothe the naked. Just as the Holy One, Blessed be He, visits the sick, as it is written with regard to God’s appearing to Abraham following his circumcision: “And the Lord appeared unto him by the terebinths of Mamre” (Genesis 18:1), so too, should you visit the sick. Just as the Holy One, Blessed be He, consoles mourners, as it is written: “And it came to pass after the death of Abraham, that God blessed Isaac his son” (Genesis 25:11), so too, should you console mourners. Just as the Holy One, Blessed be He, buried the dead, as it is written: “And he was buried in the valley in the land of Moab” (Deuteronomy 34:6), so too, should you bury the dead. The Gemara discusses the verse: “And the Lord God made for Adam and for his wife garments of skin, and clothed them” (Genesis 3:21)...

Rabbi Samlai taught: With regard to the Torah, its beginning is an act of kindness and its end is an act of kindness. Its beginning is an act of kindness, as it is written: “And the Lord God made for Adam and for his wife garments of skin, and clothed them” (Genesis 3:21). And its end is an act of kindness, as it is written: “And he was buried in the valley in the land of Moab” (Deuteronomy 34:6).

סוכה מ״ט ב:ח׳-י״ג

וְהַיְינוּ דְּאָמַר רַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר מַאי דִּכְתִיב הִגִּיד לְךָ אָדָם מַה טּוֹב וּמָה ה׳ דּוֹרֵשׁ מִמְּךָ כִּי אִם עֲשׂוֹת מִשְׁפָּט וְאַהֲבַת חֶסֶד וְהַצְנֵעַ לֶכֶת עִם אֱלֹקֶיךָ עֲשׂוֹת מִשְׁפָּט זֶה הַדִּין וְאַהֲבַת חֶסֶד זוֹ גְּמִילוּת חֲסָדִים וְהַצְנֵעַ לֶכֶת עִם אֱלֹקֶיךָ זוֹ הוֹצָאַת הַמֵּת וְהַכְנָסַת כַּלָּה לַחוּפָּה וַהֲלֹא דְּבָרִים קַל וָחוֹמֶר וּמָה דְּבָרִים שֶׁדַּרְכָּן לַעֲשׂוֹתָן בְּפַרְהֶסְיָא אָמְרָה תּוֹרָה הַצְנֵעַ לֶכֶת דְּבָרִים שֶׁדַּרְכָּן לַעֲשׂוֹתָן בְּצִנְעָא עַל אַחַת כַּמָּה וְכַמָּה אָמַר רַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר גָּדוֹל הָעוֹשֶׂה צְדָקָה יוֹתֵר מִכׇּל הַקָּרְבָּנוֹת שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר עֲשֹׂה צְדָקָה וּמִשְׁפָּט נִבְחָר לַה׳ מִזָּבַח וְאָמַר רַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר גְּדוֹלָה גְּמִילוּת חֲסָדִים יוֹתֵר מִן הַצְּדָקָה שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר זִרְעוּ לָכֶם לִצְדָקָה וְקִצְרוּ לְפִי חֶסֶד אִם אָדָם זוֹרֵעַ סָפֵק אוֹכֵל סָפֵק אֵינוֹ אוֹכֵל אָדָם קוֹצֵר וַדַּאי אוֹכֵל וְאָמַר רַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר אֵין צְדָקָה מִשְׁתַּלֶּמֶת אֶלָּא לְפִי חֶסֶד שֶׁבָּהּ שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר זִרְעוּ לָכֶם לִצְדָקָה וְקִצְרוּ לְפִי חֶסֶד תָּנוּ רַבָּנַן בִּשְׁלֹשָׁה דְּבָרִים גְּדוֹלָה גְּמִילוּת חֲסָדִים יוֹתֵר מִן הַצְּדָקָה צְדָקָה בְּמָמוֹנוֹ גְּמִילוּת חֲסָדִים בֵּין בְּגוּפוֹ בֵּין בְּמָמוֹנוֹ צְדָקָה לָעֲנִיִּים גְּמִילוּת חֲסָדִים בֵּין לָעֲנִיִּים בֵּין לָעֲשִׁירִים צְדָקָה לַחַיִּים גְּמִילוּת חֲסָדִים בֵּין לַחַיִּים בֵּין לַמֵּתִים וְאָמַר רַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר כׇּל הָעוֹשֶׂה צְדָקָה וּמִשְׁפָּט כְּאִילּוּ מִילֵּא כָּל הָעוֹלָם כּוּלּוֹ חֶסֶד שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר אוֹהֵב צְדָקָה וּמִשְׁפָּט חֶסֶד ה׳ מָלְאָה הָאָרֶץ שֶׁמָּא תֹּאמַר כׇּל הַבָּא לִקְפּוֹץ קוֹפֵץ תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר מַה יָּקָר חַסְדְּךָ אֱלֹקִים (חֶסֶד ה׳ מָלְאָה הָאָרֶץ) וְגוֹ׳ יָכוֹל אַף יְרֵא שָׁמַיִם כֵּן תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר וְחֶסֶד ה׳ מֵעוֹלָם וְעַד עוֹלָם עַל יְרֵאָיו אָמַר רַבִּי חָמָא בַּר פָּפָּא כׇּל אָדָם שֶׁיֵּשׁ עָלָיו חֵן בְּיָדוּעַ שֶׁהוּא יְרֵא שָׁמַיִם שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר חֶסֶד ה׳ מֵעוֹלָם וְעַד עוֹלָם עַל יְרֵאָיו וְאָמַר רַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר מַאי דִּכְתִיב פִּיהָ פָּתְחָה בְחָכְמָה וְתוֹרַת חֶסֶד עַל לְשׁוֹנָהּ וְכִי יֵשׁ תּוֹרָה שֶׁל חֶסֶד וְיֵשׁ תּוֹרָה שֶׁאֵינָהּ שֶׁל חֶסֶד אֶלָּא תּוֹרָה לִשְׁמָהּ זוֹ הִיא תּוֹרָה שֶׁל חֶסֶד שֶׁלֹּא לִשְׁמָהּ זוֹ הִיא תּוֹרָה שֶׁאֵינָהּ שֶׁל חֶסֶד אִיכָּא דְּאָמְרִי תּוֹרָה לְלַמְּדָהּ זוֹ הִיא תּוֹרָה שֶׁל חֶסֶד שֶׁלֹּא לְלַמְּדָהּ זוֹ הִיא תּוֹרָה שֶׁאֵינָהּ שֶׁל חֶסֶד:

Sukkah 49b:8-13

And this is what Rabbi Elazar said: What is the meaning of that which is written: “It has been told you, O man, what is good, and what the Lord does require of you; only to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God” (Micah 6:8)? “To do justly”; this is justice. “To love mercy”; this is acts of kindness. “To walk humbly with your God”; this is referring to taking the indigent dead out for burial and accompanying a poor bride to her wedding canopy, both of which must be performed without fanfare. The Gemara summarizes: And are these matters not inferred a fortiori? If, with regard to matters that tend to be conducted in public, as the multitudes participate in funerals and weddings, the Torah says: Walk humbly, then in matters that tend to be conducted in private, e.g., giving charity and studying Torah, all the more so should they be conducted privately. § Rabbi Elazar said: One who performs acts of charity is greater than one who sacrifices all types of offerings, as it is stated: “To perform charity and justice is more acceptable to the Lord than an offering” (Proverbs 21:3), including all types of offerings. And Rabbi Elazar said: Acts of kindness, assisting someone in need, are greater than charity, as it is stated: “Sow to yourselves according to charity, and reap according to kindness” (Hosea 10:12). This means: If a person sows, it is uncertain whether he will eat or whether he will not eat, since much can go wrong before the seed becomes food. However, if a person reaps, he certainly eats. In this verse, charity is likened to sowing, while acts of kindness are likened to reaping. And Rabbi Elazar said: The reward for charity is paid from Heaven only in accordance with the kindness and generosity included therein and in accordance with the effort and the consideration that went into the giving. It is not merely in accordance with the sum of money, as it is stated: “Sow to yourselves according to charity, and reap according to kindness.” The Sages taught that acts of kindness are superior to charity in three respects: Charity can be performed only with one’s money, while acts of kindness can be performed both with his person and with his money. Charity is given to the poor, while acts of kindness are performed both for the poor and for the rich. Charity is given to the living, while acts of kindness are performed both for the living and for the dead. And Rabbi Elazar said: Anyone who performs charity and justice is considered as though he filled the whole world in its entirety with kindness, as it is stated: “He loves charity and justice; the earth is full of the kindness of the Lord” (Psalms 33:5). Lest you say that anyone who comes to leap and perform an act of kindness may simply leap and do so without scrutiny, the verse states: “How precious is your kindness, O God” (Psalms 36:8). It is a precious and rare occurrence to perform an act of kindness properly. One might have thought that even a God-fearing individual does not always encounter the opportunity to perform acts of kindness. Therefore, the verse states: “But the kindness of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear Him” (Psalms 103:17). Rabbi Ḥama bar Pappa said: With regard to any person who has grace about him, it is certain that he is God-fearing, as it is stated: “But the kindness of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear Him.” When one sees that a certain individual is endowed with grace and kindness, one can be certain that he is a God-fearing person. And Rabbi Elazar said: What is the meaning of that which is written: “She opens her mouth with wisdom, and a Torah of kindness is on her tongue” (Proverbs 31:26)? The Gemara asks: Is there, then, a Torah of kindness and a Torah that is not of kindness? Rather, it is Torah studied for its own sake that is a Torah of kindness, as one studies it wholeheartedly; and it is Torah studied not for its own sake but for some ulterior motive that is a Torah that is not of kindness. Some say that it is Torah studied in order to teach it to others that is a Torah of kindness; it is Torah studied with the intent of not teaching it to others that is a Torah that is not of kindness.

משנה תורה, הלכות אבל י״ד:א׳

(א) מִצְוַת עֲשֵׂה שֶׁל דִּבְרֵיהֶם לְבַקֵּר חוֹלִים. וּלְנַחֵם אֲבֵלִים. וּלְהוֹצִיא הַמֵּת. וּלְהַכְנִיס הַכַּלָּה. וּלְלַוּוֹת הָאוֹרְחִים. וּלְהִתְעַסֵּק בְּכָל צָרְכֵי הַקְּבוּרָה. לָשֵׂאת עַל הַכָּתֵף. וְלֵילֵךְ לְפָנָיו וְלִסְפֹּד וְלַחְפֹּר וְלִקְבֹּר. וְכֵן לְשַׂמֵּחַ הַכַּלָּה וְהֶחָתָן. וּלְסַעֲדָם בְּכָל צָרְכֵיהֶם. וְאֵלּוּ הֵן גְּמִילוּת חֲסָדִים שֶׁבְּגוּפוֹ שֶׁאֵין לָהֶם שִׁעוּר. אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁכָּל מִצְוֹת אֵלּוּ מִדִּבְרֵיהֶם הֲרֵי הֵן בִּכְלַל (ויקרא יט יח) "וְאָהַבְתָּ לְרֵעֲךָ כָּמוֹךָ". כָּל הַדְּבָרִים שֶׁאַתָּה רוֹצֶה שֶׁיַּעֲשׂוּ אוֹתָם לְךָ אֲחֵרִים. עֲשֵׂה אַתָּה אוֹתָן לְאָחִיךְ בְּתוֹרָה וּבְמִצְוֹת:

Mishneh Torah, Mourning 14:1

(1) It is a rabbinic positive precept to visit the sick, comfort the mourners, escort the dead, dower the bride, accompany the [departing] guests — — as well as to cheer the bride and the groom, and to assist them in whatever they need. Even though all these precepts are of rabbinic origin, they are implied in the biblical verse: "You shall love your neighbor as yourself" (Leviticus 19:18); that is, whatever you would have others do to you, do to your brothers in Torah and precepts.

סוכה מ״ט ב:ח׳-י״ג

וְהַיְינוּ דְּאָמַר רַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר מַאי דִּכְתִיב הִגִּיד לְךָ אָדָם מַה טּוֹב וּמָה ה׳ דּוֹרֵשׁ מִמְּךָ כִּי אִם עֲשׂוֹת מִשְׁפָּט וְאַהֲבַת חֶסֶד וְהַצְנֵעַ לֶכֶת עִם אֱלֹקֶיךָ עֲשׂוֹת מִשְׁפָּט זֶה הַדִּין וְאַהֲבַת חֶסֶד זוֹ גְּמִילוּת חֲסָדִים וְהַצְנֵעַ לֶכֶת עִם אֱלֹקֶיךָ זוֹ הוֹצָאַת הַמֵּת וְהַכְנָסַת כַּלָּה לַחוּפָּה וַהֲלֹא דְּבָרִים קַל וָחוֹמֶר וּמָה דְּבָרִים שֶׁדַּרְכָּן לַעֲשׂוֹתָן בְּפַרְהֶסְיָא אָמְרָה תּוֹרָה הַצְנֵעַ לֶכֶת דְּבָרִים שֶׁדַּרְכָּן לַעֲשׂוֹתָן בְּצִנְעָא עַל אַחַת כַּמָּה וְכַמָּה אָמַר רַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר גָּדוֹל הָעוֹשֶׂה צְדָקָה יוֹתֵר מִכׇּל הַקָּרְבָּנוֹת שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר עֲשֹׂה צְדָקָה וּמִשְׁפָּט נִבְחָר לַה׳ מִזָּבַח וְאָמַר רַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר גְּדוֹלָה גְּמִילוּת חֲסָדִים יוֹתֵר מִן הַצְּדָקָה שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר זִרְעוּ לָכֶם לִצְדָקָה וְקִצְרוּ לְפִי חֶסֶד אִם אָדָם זוֹרֵעַ סָפֵק אוֹכֵל סָפֵק אֵינוֹ אוֹכֵל אָדָם קוֹצֵר וַדַּאי אוֹכֵל וְאָמַר רַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר אֵין צְדָקָה מִשְׁתַּלֶּמֶת אֶלָּא לְפִי חֶסֶד שֶׁבָּהּ שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר זִרְעוּ לָכֶם לִצְדָקָה וְקִצְרוּ לְפִי חֶסֶד תָּנוּ רַבָּנַן בִּשְׁלֹשָׁה דְּבָרִים גְּדוֹלָה גְּמִילוּת חֲסָדִים יוֹתֵר מִן הַצְּדָקָה צְדָקָה בְּמָמוֹנוֹ גְּמִילוּת חֲסָדִים בֵּין בְּגוּפוֹ בֵּין בְּמָמוֹנוֹ צְדָקָה לָעֲנִיִּים גְּמִילוּת חֲסָדִים בֵּין לָעֲנִיִּים בֵּין לָעֲשִׁירִים צְדָקָה לַחַיִּים גְּמִילוּת חֲסָדִים בֵּין לַחַיִּים בֵּין לַמֵּתִים וְאָמַר רַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר כׇּל הָעוֹשֶׂה צְדָקָה וּמִשְׁפָּט כְּאִילּוּ מִילֵּא כָּל הָעוֹלָם כּוּלּוֹ חֶסֶד שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר אוֹהֵב צְדָקָה וּמִשְׁפָּט חֶסֶד ה׳ מָלְאָה הָאָרֶץ שֶׁמָּא תֹּאמַר כׇּל הַבָּא לִקְפּוֹץ קוֹפֵץ תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר מַה יָּקָר חַסְדְּךָ אֱלֹקִים (חֶסֶד ה׳ מָלְאָה הָאָרֶץ) וְגוֹ׳ יָכוֹל אַף יְרֵא שָׁמַיִם כֵּן תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר וְחֶסֶד ה׳ מֵעוֹלָם וְעַד עוֹלָם עַל יְרֵאָיו אָמַר רַבִּי חָמָא בַּר פָּפָּא כׇּל אָדָם שֶׁיֵּשׁ עָלָיו חֵן בְּיָדוּעַ שֶׁהוּא יְרֵא שָׁמַיִם שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר חֶסֶד ה׳ מֵעוֹלָם וְעַד עוֹלָם עַל יְרֵאָיו וְאָמַר רַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר מַאי דִּכְתִיב פִּיהָ פָּתְחָה בְחָכְמָה וְתוֹרַת חֶסֶד עַל לְשׁוֹנָהּ וְכִי יֵשׁ תּוֹרָה שֶׁל חֶסֶד וְיֵשׁ תּוֹרָה שֶׁאֵינָהּ שֶׁל חֶסֶד אֶלָּא תּוֹרָה לִשְׁמָהּ זוֹ הִיא תּוֹרָה שֶׁל חֶסֶד שֶׁלֹּא לִשְׁמָהּ זוֹ הִיא תּוֹרָה שֶׁאֵינָהּ שֶׁל חֶסֶד אִיכָּא דְּאָמְרִי תּוֹרָה לְלַמְּדָהּ זוֹ הִיא תּוֹרָה שֶׁל חֶסֶד שֶׁלֹּא לְלַמְּדָהּ זוֹ הִיא תּוֹרָה שֶׁאֵינָהּ שֶׁל חֶסֶד:

Sukkah 49b:8-13

And this is what Rabbi Elazar said: What is the meaning of that which is written: “It has been told you, O man, what is good, and what the Lord does require of you; only to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God” (Micah 6:8)? “To do justly”; this is justice. “To love mercy”; this is acts of kindness. “To walk humbly with your God”; this is referring to taking the indigent dead out for burial and accompanying a poor bride to her wedding canopy, both of which must be performed without fanfare. The Gemara summarizes: And are these matters not inferred a fortiori? If, with regard to matters that tend to be conducted in public, as the multitudes participate in funerals and weddings, the Torah says: Walk humbly, then in matters that tend to be conducted in private, e.g., giving charity and studying Torah, all the more so should they be conducted privately. § Rabbi Elazar said: One who performs acts of charity is greater than one who sacrifices all types of offerings, as it is stated: “To perform charity and justice is more acceptable to the Lord than an offering” (Proverbs 21:3), including all types of offerings. And Rabbi Elazar said: Acts of kindness, assisting someone in need, are greater than charity, as it is stated: “Sow to yourselves according to charity, and reap according to kindness” (Hosea 10:12). This means: If a person sows, it is uncertain whether he will eat or whether he will not eat, since much can go wrong before the seed becomes food. However, if a person reaps, he certainly eats. In this verse, charity is likened to sowing, while acts of kindness are likened to reaping. And Rabbi Elazar said: The reward for charity is paid from Heaven only in accordance with the kindness and generosity included therein and in accordance with the effort and the consideration that went into the giving. It is not merely in accordance with the sum of money, as it is stated: “Sow to yourselves according to charity, and reap according to kindness.” The Sages taught that acts of kindness are superior to charity in three respects: Charity can be performed only with one’s money, while acts of kindness can be performed both with his person and with his money. Charity is given to the poor, while acts of kindness are performed both for the poor and for the rich. Charity is given to the living, while acts of kindness are performed both for the living and for the dead. And Rabbi Elazar said: Anyone who performs charity and justice is considered as though he filled the whole world in its entirety with kindness, as it is stated: “He loves charity and justice; the earth is full of the kindness of the Lord” (Psalms 33:5). Lest you say that anyone who comes to leap and perform an act of kindness may simply leap and do so without scrutiny, the verse states: “How precious is your kindness, O God” (Psalms 36:8). It is a precious and rare occurrence to perform an act of kindness properly. One might have thought that even a God-fearing individual does not always encounter the opportunity to perform acts of kindness. Therefore, the verse states: “But the kindness of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear Him” (Psalms 103:17). Rabbi Ḥama bar Pappa said: With regard to any person who has grace about him, it is certain that he is God-fearing, as it is stated: “But the kindness of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear Him.” When one sees that a certain individual is endowed with grace and kindness, one can be certain that he is a God-fearing person. And Rabbi Elazar said: What is the meaning of that which is written: “She opens her mouth with wisdom, and a Torah of kindness is on her tongue” (Proverbs 31:26)? The Gemara asks: Is there, then, a Torah of kindness and a Torah that is not of kindness? Rather, it is Torah studied for its own sake that is a Torah of kindness, as one studies it wholeheartedly; and it is Torah studied not for its own sake but for some ulterior motive that is a Torah that is not of kindness. Some say that it is Torah studied in order to teach it to others that is a Torah of kindness; it is Torah studied with the intent of not teaching it to others that is a Torah that is not of kindness.