Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer, for those unfamiliar, is a fascinating early medieval text, a midrash, that weaves together biblical narrative, legend, and ethical teachings. It's a treasure trove of Jewish thought. And chapter 17? Well, it hits you right in the heart.

It asks a simple question: How do we learn about the importance of showing loving-kindness – chesed – to those who are mourning?

The answer, surprisingly, isn't found in a list of commandments. It's found in a story. A story about God.

Specifically, the story of Moses' death. Deuteronomy 34:6 tells us, "And He buried him in the valley in the land of Moab, over against Beth-peor; but no man knoweth of his sepulchre unto this day." But who is this "He"? The text doesn't explicitly say.

Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer boldly declares that "He" is the Omnipresent, none other than God Himself. The text emphasizes, "Whence do we learn of the service of loving-kindness to mourners? From the Omnipresent, who alone showed loving-kindness to Moses, His servant, and buried him with His own hand."

This isn't just about divine power; it's about divine empathy. God, in this understanding, personally attends to the burial of Moses. The text underlines the weight of this act: "If this story had not been written (in the Torah) it would be impossible to say it."

It's an almost unthinkable idea. God, the ultimate being, engaging in such a personal act of mourning and burial.

But that's precisely the point. The midrash is teaching us something profound about the nature of compassion. It's telling us that even in the face of death, even at the highest level of existence, there is a need for tenderness, for loving-kindness.

The act of tending to the dead, of comforting the bereaved, isn't just a ritual; it's a sacred act that mirrors the very essence of God. It's a reminder that even in our darkest moments, we are not alone. And that the most profound acts of chesed can come in the simplest, most human forms.

So, the next time you have the opportunity to offer comfort to someone in mourning, remember this story. Remember God burying Moses. Remember that in those moments, you are not just offering a service; you are participating in something truly divine.