Do We Deserve It? You Deserve Kindness

Recently, my wife and I had a repeat conversation about what successes and achievements in life can bring to one’s circumference of comfort. For years, we have placed our own desires aside to helping others. During the Covid years, I was a part of a fantastic meal production and delivery service that delivered kosher foods to Jewish residents that were shut in, as so many were. This was a monumental task that consumed my life. Putting aside life for the greater good is noble. The Torah states in Genesis Rabbah 8,” Great are acts of kindness, because if it were not for them, man would not have been created”. Then in Grace After Meals,” …and for the life, kindness, and mercy, which Thou hast graciously bestowed upon us.” And in Hosea 10:12, “Sow righteousness for yourselves; reap according to lovingkindness.” This is showing that the blessing of kindness is everlasting.

Doing for others, is an eternal mitzvah. The Jerusalem Talmud states that, “Whoever busies himself with acts of loving-kindness merits sitting in the shadow of God.” Do we all not wish for this? Let us review in Megilla 28a, “It is said that Job was also generous. When he bought only a half a perutah’s worth of merchandise, he would still leave a whole perutah with the storekeeper.” Thoughtfulness is a conscience act.

The question is twofold. Do we deserve it? Kindness? Yes, as God would have us reap kindness from his creation. Do we deserve it? Any reward given for such acts. As God would see fit, we should all live long and prosper! Do not feel guilty for prosperity, just remember to use it for the good.

Your kindness is a beckoned trait desired by God. We are not inherently kind and good. But we should and must be. Mishnah Peah 1, “Acts of kindness are among those things that have no limits” and Mizmor L’David, “May only goodness and kindness pursue me all the days of my life.”

Each day we all have the opportunity to do good to others. Yalkut Psalms 874 states that “Acts of loving-kindness are called life.”  Let us invest in life with good deeds and kindness. Yalkut Ruth 211, “Great is the strength of those who perform the acts of lovingkindness… [They are sheltered under] the wings of the Holy One, blessed be He.”

The Torah and our respective texts are full of references of the desire for kindness. In Zohar, Numbers 3:145, “Every individual who has kindness is called an angel of G-d.” Today, may we reflect on the importance of love and kindness to all, for each moment, for a better life and an eternal mitzvah.