Every. Single. Day.

Based on Ahavas Chesed vol. 2 chapter 12 - part 1

So far, we have discussed how important chesed is, how performing acts of chesed extends one’s life and atones for his sins, how chesed advocates for a person in times of danger, and how chesed benefits a person both in this world and the Next. (There were even more advantages that we haven’t just recapped!) We see, therefore, how much a person must cling to the trait of chesed, as per Micah 6:8: “What does Hashem ask of you other than to act justly and love kindness?”

We must not allow ourselves to become lax in this attribute even for a single day, the same as we must establish times each day for Torah study. The Chofetz Chaim quotes Rav Chaim Vital, who wrote that one must lament each day, “Woe to me that a day went by without Torah and acts of kindness!” This is because holiness is achieved through three “pillars”: Torah, avodah (service/prayer) and acts of kindness. Because of our sins, the primary source of avodah, i.e., the Temple service, has been taken from us. This leaves us with only two “pillars” through which to pursue holiness. We therefore have to exert that much more effort into our Torah and acts of kindness. This will cause our sins to be forgiven, as per Mishlei 16:6: “Through chesed and truth sin will be forgiven.”

Along similar lines, Rabbi Yehoshua ben Chananya, standing near the Temple Mount, lamented that the Temple – which atoned for our sins – had been destroyed. Rabbi Yochanan ben Zakkai consoled him that we still have a comparable means of atonement, namely chesed, as per Hoshea 6:6: “I (God) desire acts of kindness rather than sacrifices.” (Avos d’Rabbi Nosson 4:5) Since human nature is to sin all the time, it follows that we must constantly pursue opportunities to perform chesed. Just like the Temple didn’t go a day without sacrifices, we can’t afford to go a day without chesed.

Now don’t think that we didn’t have an equally imperative need to do chesed even when the Temple was standing, because we absolutely did. We see this from the Torah: “If you ardently observe the entire commandment” (Deut. 11:22), “to love Hashem your God and always walk in His ways” (ibid., 19:9). (We previously illustrated how “walking in God’s ways” refers specifically to chesed.)

The Zohar (p. Vayechi) teaches that when one passes away, all of his days accompany him to the Heavenly Court and testify about him, whether it be for good or the opposite. So, yeah, it’s really important that we make sure our days are full of Torah and chesed!

We can also see this from the way Chazal speak about Torah study and chesed. They don’t say, “Anyone who studies Torah and performs chesed….” Rather, they say, “One who occupies himself with Torah and acts of chesed…,” because we must be constantly be involved in Torah and chesed.

Along these lines, the gemara in Baba Basra (9b) refers to “one who accustoms himself to giving tzedakah,” based on Mishlei 21:21, “one who pursues tzedakah and chesed.” “Pursuing” tzedakah and chesed means that a person is always running to emulate this trait of Hashem.

So, we must not allow ourselves to think, “Okay, I performed an act of chesed today, so I’m good for the next few weeks.” Rather, every day we must embrace every opportunity to do chesed that comes our way. When we come before the Heavenly Court and our days accompany us to testify, we’ll be glad that we did!

Get handy, colorful chesed "cheat sheets" in A Universe of Chesed!