Parashat Vayera – True “Chesed”

By Rabbi Ezra Friedman

When discussing the story of Avraham Avinu the automatic association that comes to mind is the value of chesed, kindness. The Prophet Micah explicitly associates kindness with Avraham (Micah 7, 20):

תִּתֵּ֤ן אֱמֶת֙ לְיַֽעֲקֹ֔ב חֶ֖סֶד לְאַבְרָהָ֑ם אֲשֶׁר־נִשְׁבַּ֥עְתָּ לַאֲבֹתֵ֖ינוּ מִ֥ימֵי קֶֽדֶם.

You will show truth to Yaakov and Kindness to Avraham ,as you have sworn to our ancestors since days of long ago.

Avraham embodies the idea of kindness. However, the English term “kindness” is not enough to express the full meaning of the Hebrew word. Even such a term like grace cannot fully describe what the word chesed really means. In order to describe the true meaning of chesed in Judaism, we must first understand that it is one of the most spiritual characteristics a person can have, so much so that Hashem went so far as to claim that the foundation of our world must be built on chesed as it is written (Psalms 89, 3):

כִּֽי־אָמַ֗רְתִּי ע֭וֹלָם חֶ֣סֶד יִבָּנֶ֑ה.

As I (Hashem) Said “A world of Chesed shall be built”

In order for one to understand the concept of “Chesed“, we must first explain a basic philosophical principle in Judaism. Man was made in Hashem‘s image. To emulate this, we are commanded to parallel His actions. By doing so, we are bringing Hashem‘s light into this world and infusing it with more of His presence. Just as Hashem is just, so man must be just. Just as Hashem is kind, man must embody kindness. In the spiritual realm, many qualities go beyond human nature and basic human relations. True chesed is kindness that breaks the barriers of logic. The Rambam in his cherished philosophical work “Morei Nevuchim” (The Guide to the Perplexed) describes what true chesed is (3, 53):

חסד ענינו ההפלגה באי זה דבר שמפליגים בו… וידוע שגמילות הטוב כולל שני ענינים. האחד מהם לגמול טוב מי שאין לו חק עליך כלל. והשני להטיב למי שראוי לטובה יותר ממה שהיו ראוי.

The term chesed is from excess, chesed is when one amplifies kindness. It is known that there are two types of chesed: One is when a person is good and kind to whom he has no connection. The second is enlarged kindness to someone whom needed a lesser degree of kindness.

The Rambam explains that chesed is when kindness is done in excess. Kindness done in such a manner, in which the expectations of goodness and love are far beyond even human nature, it sprouts from the depths of the human heart. It is quite possible that the Rambam learned this definition of chesed from the master of chesed himself- Avraham Avinu. The two forms of chesed mentioned by the Rambam can be found in this week’s Parsha. This week we read that Avraham had just been circumcised at the age of 99. It was a scorching day outside and Avraham was rehabilitating from his operation. Suddenly Avraham sees three men wandering outside they seemed poor and looked out of place. He invited them into his home. The Sages explain that Avraham thought they were idol worshipers the contrary of Avraham‘s life mission, yet regardless Avraham hosted them like kings. Even though he was in intense pain, he and his wife Sarah fed them the finest cuisine and made them feel right at home. This is the second type of chesed the Rambam mentions, giving even more than the receiver needs. Avraham exceeded any normal expectation of giving and kindness.

Later in the parsha, we learn about the city of Sodom. A people consumed by immorality and selfishness. They prided themselves on the fact that kindness was a foreign concept in their society. Avraham was the antithesis of this society and knew that they deserved severe punishment. In complete disregard to all of this, he prayed and spoke to Hashem like no other time before, begging for their mercy and tried his utmost to give them another chance. He pleaded with G-d that there must be a decent amount of good in their city, there must be some righteous people to be found. Even though Hashem didn’t change his mind, it is apparent that Avraham sacrificed a lot to try to save a people who hated and loathed his whole existence. From this we can see the first type chesed, kindness and love to a people who from a logical perspective didn’t deserve anything. However, we see that Avraham went to great extents to bring Hashem‘s goodness into the world.

Although true kindness, as displayed by Avraham, is not easy to achieve, we much try our best to emulate his actions. Let our hearts be imprinted with the value of kindness as taught to us by Avraham. By doing so, we are emulating Hashem and bringing much goodness into our world.