And it's not just some nice little add-on. It's woven into the very fabric of our faith.
Rabbi Berekhya, in Kohelet Rabbah, makes a powerful point: acts of kindness appear at the beginning, middle, and end of the Torah. ! From the creation story to the very end of Moses' life, this theme echoes.
Let’s rewind to the beginning. Remember the creation of Eve? Genesis 2:22 tells us, "The Lord God built the rib...into a woman, and He brought her to the man." But Rabbi Berekhya sees more than just construction here. He suggests that God Himself braided Eve's hair and brought her to Adam, acting as the ultimate groomsman. Can you imagine? The Kadosh Baruch Hu, the Holy One Blessed be He, personally involved in this act of loving creation. In some coastal towns, they even used the word "building" to refer to braiding hair, adding another layer to this beautiful image.
And then we leap to the middle of the Torah. Genesis 18:1 recounts how "The Lord appeared to him in the plains of Mamre." But why? The Midrash explains that God was visiting Abraham, who was recovering from his circumcision. It's like a divine get-well visit! And it doesn't stop there. Genesis 25:11 states, "God blessed Isaac his son." This, we learn, is the blessing of the mourners. God came to console Isaac after the death of Abraham. These aren't just fleeting appearances; they're deliberate acts of compassion and empathy.
Finally, at the very end of the Torah, we read in Deuteronomy 34:6, "He buried him in the valley." This refers to God burying Moses. The ultimate act of kindness, performed by the Divine for His most faithful servant.
Rabbi Hanin takes this idea even further. He asks, what is the true measure of recompense for acts of kindness? He illustrates with a series of events. Jacob dies in Egypt. Who should rightfully care for him? God Himself, who promised, "I will descend with you to Egypt, and I will also take you up" (Genesis 46:4). But Joseph steps in and "snatches the mitzvah," the good deed, for himself, as it says, "Joseph ascended to bury his father" (Genesis 50:7).
Then, Joseph dies in Egypt. Whose responsibility is it to care for him? Surely the tribes, to whom he swore an oath: "God will surely remember you, and you shall carry up my bones from here" (Genesis 50:25). But Moses comes along and "snatches the mitzvah," as Exodus 13:19 tells us, "Moses took Joseph’s bones."
And finally, Moses dies. And God, in His glory, repays him, as it is stated: “He buried him in the valley” (Deuteronomy 34:6).
What's the takeaway here? That even when others step up to do good, the opportunity for kindness is always there. And that ultimately, acts of kindness, especially those done for others, are noticed and valued by something much greater than ourselves. It’s a cycle, a continuous flow of compassion that connects us to each other and to the Divine.
So, the next time you have the chance to offer a helping hand, a listening ear, or a comforting word, remember this story. Remember the beginning, middle, and end of the Torah. Remember that even the smallest act of kindness can ripple outwards, creating a world of difference. And maybe, just maybe, it's those acts of kindness that truly define us.