ע֭וֹלָם חֶ֣סֶד יִבָּנֶ֑ה
The world is built from love....
Olam Chesed Yibaneh ...
(ב) שִׁמְעוֹן הַצַּדִּיק הָיָה מִשְּׁיָרֵי כְנֶסֶת הַגְּדוֹלָה. הוּא הָיָה אוֹמֵר, עַל שְׁלשָׁה דְבָרִים הָעוֹלָם עוֹמֵד, עַל הַתּוֹרָה וְעַל הָעֲבוֹדָה וְעַל גְּמִילוּת חֲסָדִים:
(2) Shimon the Righteous was from the remnants of the Great Assembly. He would say, "On three things the world stands: on the Torah, on the service and on acts of lovingkindness."
(ו) וְעַל גְּמִילוּת חֲסָדִים. דִּכְתִיב (תהלים פט) עוֹלָם חֶסֶד יִבָּנֶה. וּגְמִילוּת חֲסָדִים, הוּא לְשַׂמֵּחַ חֲתָנִים, וּלְנַחֵם אֲבֵלִים, וּלְבַקֵּר חוֹלִים, וְלִקְבֹּר מֵתִים, וְכַיּוֹצֵא בָזֶה:
(6) "and on acts of lovingkindness": As it is written (Ps. 89:3), “The world is built up by your kindness." And lovingkindness is to gladden newlyweds and to comfort mourners, to visit the sick and bury the dead, and the like.
Kindness is in the Doing -- Alan Morinis Every Day, Holy Day p. 29
The Mussar teachings tell us that the most important aspect of loving kindness is not what you feel but what you do. Our most valuable acts of loving kindness take place when we overcome an inner resistance and do the benevolent thing anyway. It has long been understood that the heart follows the deed...
A Personality of Chesed -- Alan Morinis Every Day, Holy Day p. 211
Many people do acts of loving kindness, yet more profound is the personality of loving kindness. Each of us is capable of acts of benevolence, but someone who is a personality of loving kindness makes care for others the axis around which his or her life revolves. This person is not content to wait for opportunities to do kindness for others, but seeks out ways to give and care and support...
QUESTIONS:
Why is kindness considered one of the three pillars of the world?
What does Bartenura's list of kind deeds tell you about the nature of chesed? Why these deeds? What others would you add?
Have you ever experienced an inner resistance to performing acts of kindness? What form did the resistance take?
Have you ever overcome such a moment of inner resistance? How?
How could you take a step closer to making kindness a habit or a way of life?
PRACTICES:
Chant or Meditate using Psalm 89:3 Olam Chesed Yibane or another phrase
Study texts on chesed in your favorite Mussar source
Make a phone call, a visit or send a physical card every day this week as an act of loving kindness.
Count the Omer after sundown
Write for 10-20 minutes at the end of each day reflecting on kindness -- an act you did or did not do, how it felt, what was difficult, connected thoughts and ideas