(2) Looking up, he (Abraham) saw three men standing near him. As soon as he saw them, he ran from the entrance of the tent to greet them and, bowing to the ground,
1. Why would Abraham invite 3 strangers into his tent in the middle of the desert?
2. Would you do the same as Abraham and invite strangers into your home? This middah (value) is hachnasat orchim (welcoming the stranger).
3. Is there a safe way to show the value of hachnasat orchim in your lives? Discuss with your table.
(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 one of the last of the men of the great assembly. He used to say: the world stands upon three things: the Torah, the Temple service, and the practice of acts of piety (acts of loving kindness).
This text is from the Talmud, a collection of teachings that Rabbis study in the past and present. G'milut Chasadim means "acts of loving kindness". It refers to the acts that someone does for someone/something without any compensation for the act, but rather making the other person's life better. Some examples of g'milut chasadim are:
-visiting the sick (bikur holim)
-comforting mourners (nichum avelim)
-hospitality/welcoming the stranger (hachnasat orchim)
-repairing the world (tikkun olam)
1. What are some g'milut chasadim acts that you have engaged in this school year? What was the feelings you had when doing the act of loving kindness for yourself? For the other person?
Sefer HaAggadah, Part 5, Chapter 4, #351
Our masters taught: Loving-kindness is greater than charity in three ways. Charity is done with one's money, while loving-kindness may be done with one's money or with one's person. Charity is given only to the poor, while loving-kindness may be given both to the poor or to the rich. Charity is given only to the living, while loving-kindness may be shown to both the living and the dead.
R. Eleazar said further: He who executes charity and justice is as though he had filled the entire world, all of it, with loving-kindness, as is said, "When one loveth charity and justice, the earth is full of the loving-kindness of God" (Psalms 33:5).
Discussion:
1. What two values are in tension within this passage?
2. Think of an act of g'milut chasadim with your partner(s). Using this act, answer these questions:
a. What would be the outcome if you only did the charity (gave money) to your cause?
b. What would be the outcome if you only gave your body/time/energy to the same cause?
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).