The Torah describes Abraham’s love of kindness in great detail. Three days after Abraham had circumcised himself at the age of ninety-nine, he sat outside of his tent to see if there were any passersby in need of hospitality. G-d realized that, despite his weakened condition, Abraham was bothered by the lack of visitors, and He sent him three angels disguised as idolatrous nomads. Although these people represented an ideology antithetical to that of his own monotheistic belief, and despite his advanced age and weakened body, Abraham rushed to greet them and helped prepare a full meal for them.
Similarly, when G-d informed Abraham of His intentions to destroy the wicked city of Sodom, Abraham pleaded and bargained with G-d on the city’s behalf, knowing fully well that they represented a lifestyle far different than his own. However, once it became clear that there were not even ten men in the whole metropolis worthy of being saved, Abraham did not even try to save them any more. If G-d did not feel they were deserving of His compassion, Abraham did not feel any differently.
Abraham’s self-control is also seen later, when he was ordered to send away his concubine, Hagar, and her son, Ishmael. Sarah, Abraham’s primary wife, was concerned that Ishmael was exerting a negative influence on her own son, Isaac. She instructed Abraham to send Hagar and Ishmael away from his home. The Torah says that this was a very difficult decision for Abraham, as he loved Ishmael very much. Yet, when G-d concurred with Sarah’s suggestion, Abraham immediately ordered them out of his house with a little food, but no money. Here too, Abraham controlled his natural compassion and love to conform to G-d’s instructions.
This devotion proved itself most when Abraham was commanded to bring his son Isaac as a sacrifice to G-d. Not only did this order contradict his instinctive paternal love for his son, it also contradicted everything Abraham had always professed to the world about G-d. He had always distinguished his G-d from all the idolatrous gods as a G-d of peace who despised human sacrifice. For the loving and compassionate Abraham to cruelly slaughter his own son as a sacrifice to G-d, would undermine his own credibility and that of his G-d’s. Yet, here too, Abraham showed that his devotion to G-d took precedence over his own emotions. Abraham’s good character was not merely a natural inclination, but rather an expression of his total devotion to G-d.
“...He said…please do not pass by your servant...I will bring you food” (Gen. 18:3-5)
Rav Elazar Shach once spoke to a group of students. “I have no doubt that if you were 99 years old, were just circumcised, and saw a few strangers coming in the distance; you would pick yourselves up and invite them in for some refreshment. After all, that’s what our forefather Abraham did! Yet, how is it that healthy young students sit down to eat in the dining room, when a new fellow student walks into the room, and nobody invites him to join them at their table? It’s not enough to read the Torah’s stories superficially. A person must learn to make their application to one’s own circumstances too.”
Did You Know...
Chesed (kindness) has many broad applications, outside of merely offering assistance when needed. Some examples cited by the rabbis include:
The numerals in one’s home address should be illuminated and large enough to be clearly seen by others, even at night. It is a chesed to spare others the bother of uncomfortably pulling into several driveways to check if the house is the right address.
Another example is writing clearly and neatly. Since letters and envelopes are meant for others to read, one should show consideration for the reader and make it easier for him to decipher what he is reading.
