Description: Chapter 4 - 01
Ahavas Chesed
Chapter 4 – 01
Chesed is of the greatest merits a person can have. It is one of the things that a person receives reward both in this world and in the next world, and the main reward is saved for the World-to-Come. Chazal say that chesed remains a zchus for a person for all his descendants, every single generation, as it says, וחסד ה' מעולם ועד עולם על יראיו, while tzedakah remains a zchus only for three generations as it says ‘וצדקתו לבני בנים’. The reason why chesed is referred to as ‘Chesed Hashem’ is because through our actions of chesed on this world, we cause Hashem to treat us and the whole world with chesed, as we have discussed in the previous chapter.
Chesed is a merit which stands by a person during difficult times, when he is going through tzaros. The Gemarah says in Avodah Zarah, Rav Elazar ben Parta and Rav Chaninah ben Tradyon were both captured by the Romans and incarcerated. Rav Elazar ben Parta said to Rav Chaninah, you are praiseworthy, ashrechah, because you were locked up for five reasons, yet you will be freed, and I was only caught because of one reason, but I will not go free. The reason is, you were involved both in Torah and in Gemilas Chasadim, and I was only involved in learning Torah alone.
The Gemarah quotes Rav Huna who said, someone who is involved in learning Torah alone, ha’osaik ba’Torah bilvad, is as if he has no G-d, domeh ke’mi she’ain lo elokah! Meaning it seems as if he has no G-d who is looking out for him and protecting him, because you need the zchus of chesed to protect you in times of need. The Gemarah says that in truth Rav Elazar ben Parta was also involved in doing chesed, he was a gabbai tzedakah, and he performed acts of kindness, but not as much as he had potential to do!
This can be better understood, by learning the following medrash. Chazal say, see the power, meaning the merit of those who do tzedakah and chesed. They don’t get protected by the light of day, or in the brightness of the sun, nor in the shade of the wings of the Chayos, or in the shade of the wings of the Keruvim, nor in the shade of the wings of the Seraphim. They are protected by Hashem Himself, as it says, מה יקר חסדך אלוקים ובני אדם בצל כנפיך יחסיון.
This means, it’s known when a person’s judgement is handled by the Beis Din Shel Maalah, although there are many angels of mercy, which comprise the majority of the Beis Din Shel Maalah, who are called ‘nedivim,’ and stand to the right of the Kisai Hakavod, nonetheless, there is middas hadin present. But if a person is judged by Hashem alone, then there is a great measure of Rachamim, of mercy. That’s what the pasuk means, ‘טוב לחסות בה' מבטוח בנדיבים’. However, a person only merits being judged by Hashem alone, if he practices tzedakah and chesed, because that strengthens and awakens the middah of chesed in Shamayim. That’s what the medrash is explaining about the pasuk: מה יקר חסדך, how precious is it, when people strengthen and awaken Hashem’s middah of chesed, and through that, בצל כנפיך יחסיון, they can take refuge in the shelter of your wings (so to speak.)
Ahavas Chesed
Chapter 4 – 01
Chesed is of the greatest merits a person can have. It is one of the things that a person receives reward both in this world and in the next world, and the main reward is saved for the World-to-Come. Chazal say that chesed remains a zchus for a person for all his descendants, every single generation, as it says, וחסד ה' מעולם ועד עולם על יראיו, while tzedakah remains a zchus only for three generations as it says ‘וצדקתו לבני בנים’. The reason why chesed is referred to as ‘Chesed Hashem’ is because through our actions of chesed on this world, we cause Hashem to treat us and the whole world with chesed, as we have discussed in the previous chapter.
Chesed is a merit which stands by a person during difficult times, when he is going through tzaros. The Gemarah says in Avodah Zarah, Rav Elazar ben Parta and Rav Chaninah ben Tradyon were both captured by the Romans and incarcerated. Rav Elazar ben Parta said to Rav Chaninah, you are praiseworthy, ashrechah, because you were locked up for five reasons, yet you will be freed, and I was only caught because of one reason, but I will not go free. The reason is, you were involved both in Torah and in Gemilas Chasadim, and I was only involved in learning Torah alone.
The Gemarah quotes Rav Huna who said, someone who is involved in learning Torah alone, ha’osaik ba’Torah bilvad, is as if he has no G-d, domeh ke’mi she’ain lo elokah! Meaning it seems as if he has no G-d who is looking out for him and protecting him, because you need the zchus of chesed to protect you in times of need. The Gemarah says that in truth Rav Elazar ben Parta was also involved in doing chesed, he was a gabbai tzedakah, and he performed acts of kindness, but not as much as he had potential to do!
This can be better understood, by learning the following medrash. Chazal say, see the power, meaning the merit of those who do tzedakah and chesed. They don’t get protected by the light of day, or in the brightness of the sun, nor in the shade of the wings of the Chayos, or in the shade of the wings of the Keruvim, nor in the shade of the wings of the Seraphim. They are protected by Hashem Himself, as it says, מה יקר חסדך אלוקים ובני אדם בצל כנפיך יחסיון.
This means, it’s known when a person’s judgement is handled by the Beis Din Shel Maalah, although there are many angels of mercy, which comprise the majority of the Beis Din Shel Maalah, who are called ‘nedivim,’ and stand to the right of the Kisai Hakavod, nonetheless, there is middas hadin present. But if a person is judged by Hashem alone, then there is a great measure of Rachamim, of mercy. That’s what the pasuk means, ‘טוב לחסות בה' מבטוח בנדיבים’. However, a person only merits being judged by Hashem alone, if he practices tzedakah and chesed, because that strengthens and awakens the middah of chesed in Shamayim. That’s what the medrash is explaining about the pasuk: מה יקר חסדך, how precious is it, when people strengthen and awaken Hashem’s middah of chesed, and through that, בצל כנפיך יחסיון, they can take refuge in the shelter of your wings (so to speak.)