 Printed with permission from "The Chesed Boomerang" by Jack Doueck www.judaicapress.com Perhaps the best way to understand how to emulate God and walk in his ways is to emulate the only person described in the Torah as having accomplished this. Abraham, our forefather, was the only biblical personality who deserved perhaps the highest and most prestigious compliment in history. The Torah tells us that Abraham walked in the ways of God (Genesis 18:19): "He would instruct his children and his household after him to keep the ways of God, to do righteousness and justice." What is it that Abraham did to earn him this great compliment? Abraham understood and practiced the correct blend of chesed. To be sure, Jewish tradition actually calls Abraham "ish chesed", "man of chesed" (or "the chesed man"!). Abraham knew when it was time to be sympathetic and kind, and he also knew when it was time to stand up and speak out. When three travelers passed his tent, he showed his unconditional hospitality as he ran out to greet them, comfort them, and feed them (Genesis 18). He identified with the suffering of others and responded constructively with immediate action. When his nephew, Lot, was held captive, he went after the aggressors and saved Lot. When he heard that the evil city of Sodom was to be destroyed, he stood up and spoke out. He pleaded with God to spare the innocent (Genesis 18). When he learned that King Avimelech's wives were stricken with infertility, he responded with empathy. He cried out to God and prayed for their health and relief (Genesis 20). When his wife, Sarah, died, he eulogized her. But his grieving did not stop him from finding a suitable burial place (Genesis 23). Having exemplified and personified the meaning of true chesed, Abraham was described as having walked in God's way. He is also the only person to whom God refers as "my beloved". If we want to fulfill our divine purpose as being created in the image of God; if we want to walk in God's ways; we need to look no further than Abraham. Rabbi Akiva was born about 20 CE and lived for one hundred twenty years. He was a great leader of the Jewish people during a critical time in history. Rabbi Akiva taught: the verse in the Torah (Leviticus 19:18), You should love your friend as you love yourself (generally known as love thy neighbor) is its greatest principle. Among Rabbi Akiva's close friends and colleagues was another brilliant sage, Shimon ben Azzai.* Ben Azzai disagreed with Rabbi Akiva over what the most important principle of the Torah is. To Ben Azzai, the verse and principle was not Love your friend as you love yourself, it was (Genesis 5:1): This is the book of the generations of man. Why? Because this verse says it all. All human beings are the children of one man – Adam. We are all related. We are all connected. What happens to one of us happens to us all. We are all one family. Actually, we learn from both opinions. We must treat others as we treat ourselves. And, our regard for humanity must transcend race, creed or gender. If we can truly imagine and believe that we are one big family, we might understand a little more about our purpose here in this world. Love and chesed are not options. They are our primary purpose for being. The Midrash (Genesis Rabah 8:5) describes what was happening at the time God was about to create Adam. The angels, says the Midrash, lined up in groups. Many of them said: "Do not create man!" Just then, the angels representing chesed argued: "please, do create man, for he will practice acts of loving-kindness!" Then God immediately created Adam. Return to 'Our Tradition' Menu
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