Introduction Part 1: Background to the Sefer
Rabbi Yisroel Meir Kagan zt”l – the Chofetz Chaim – was a prolific author. While best known for his works on lashon hara and his magnum opus, the Mishnah Brurah, he authored many other classic works. One of these was Ahavas Chesed, his treatise on the various forms of loving kindness. (“Chesed” is commonly translated as “acts of loving kindness,” but for the sake of simplicity, we’re just going to stick with “chesed” after this paragraph.)
The types of chesed that one can – and should – perform are numerous. These include hosting guests, visiting the sick, celebrating with newlyweds, giving tzedakah, extending a loan, burying the dead, comforting mourners and more. The first volume of Ahavas Chesed deals exclusively with the laws of extending loans and the timely payment of wages; volume two addresses the temporal and spiritual benefits of performing chesed, and volume three covers the details of a broad array of types of chesed. In this series, we’re going to start with volume two.
In his introduction, the Chofetz Chaim tells us that acts of chesed can be performed in a variety of ways, including physically, financially and even verbally. Furthermore, if it’s incumbent upon us to assist others in their temporal needs, this is all the more so when it comes to one’s spiritual needs, which have eternal ramifications.
The Torah tells us (Deut. 10:12) to “walk in God’s ways,” which the Sifre explains means to emulate God’s traits of kindness and compassion. These are things that we should give others for free. The Chofetz Chaim lists eight places in the Torah where Hashem tells us to follow His example, in addition to all of the acts of chesed that we see in action. Not only is doing chesed good for the recipient, it’s beneficial for the giver. As noted, Deut. 10:12 enjoins us to follow Hashem’s example; the very next verse continues that it will ultimately be “for your own benefit.” Hashem will give to us according to the amount that we give to others.
The Chofetz Chaim shares a few more verses on the hidden benefits of chesed. For example, performing acts of chesed will help one’s sins to be forgiven (Proverbs 16:6) and to extend one’s life (I Samuel 3:14, as explained in Talmud Rosh Hashana 18a). Acts of chesed will even protect a person from the tumultuous times that will precede the arrival of the Moshiach (Psalms 103:17; Sanhedrin 98b).
A person who lacks a sense of compassion and kindness, however, distances himself from God. For example, Deut. 15:9 cautions one against refusing to extend a loan because of the imminence of shemittah – the sabbatical year in which personal loans are canceled. The Torah refers to such a thing as “lowly” (belial), a term typically reserved for idolators and other ne’er-do-wells.
The Chofetz Chaim gives two reasons for which a person might refrain from performing chesed: either they’re not familiar with what doing chesed truly entails, or they don’t understand its greatness. To address this problem, the Chofetz Chaim sets out to explain the details of the different types of chesed, as well as to enlighten readers as to how performing chesed benefits both the one doing the act and the world. The volume was named Ahavas Chesed (love of kindness), the Chofetz Chaim tells us, based on Micah 6:8: “You have been told, o man, what is good and what Hashem desires of you: only to act justly, love kindness and walk humbly with your God.”
Get handy, colorful chesed "cheat sheets" in A Universe of Chesed!