Today’s learning is dedicated to the refuah sheleima of Simcha Nosson ben Zissel.

Attribute # 6 – For He Desires Kindness – כי חפץ חסד הוא

Elsewhere we have explained that there is a known chamber [in heaven] with angels that are appointed to receive the kind deeds that each person does in this world. When Hashem’s Attribute of justice raises accusations against the Jewish people, those angels immediately present these kind deeds and Hashem has mercy on Yisrael, since “He desires kindness.” Even if they are guilty, Hashem has mercy on them when they deal kindly with one another…

Therefore, it is proper for a person to behave with this Attribute, even towards one who has harmed or angered him. If he has a positive side – he acts kindly towards others, or has a good trait, in which he acts properly – it should be enough for him to subdue his anger against him, be assuaged, desire kindness, and say, “That good point he has is enough for me.”

All the more so does this apply to his wife, as our Sages say, “It should be enough for us that they raise our children and save us from sin” (Yevamos 63a). So too should he say about every person, “It is enough for me this good deed he has done me or someone else, or this good trait he has,” and emulate, “For He desires kindness.”    —   Rabbi Moshe Cordovero, Tomer Devorah

This Attribute is straight out of Rebbe Nachman’s wheelhouse. As we’ve discussed previously, Rebbe Nachman emphasized the importance of seeking out the “good points” in every person (including ourselves).

After a devastating fire hit the town of Breslov, Reb Noson and several others of Rebbe Nachman’s students went to assess the damage. While walking, they noticed someone frantically scrummaging through the ruins of his house, searching for anything salvageable. Any usable wood or metal was carefully set aside. Then, he continued to search.

“Do you see?” asked Reb Noson, “Although this man’s house went up in flames, he has not given up on rebuilding. He is making every attempt to recover whatever he can to start again. The same is true regarding spiritual matters. Even if a person feels as though he has completely failed and is ‘burned out,’ he should never give up hope. He needs to search out and collect every single good point buried within his negative actions and attitudes. In this manner, he will rebuild himself spiritually and truly return to Hashem.”

Hidden within this concept, is an incredible lesson on gratitude and appreciation. We must always search for the positive; no matter how poorly one has acted, it does not negate the good they have done. More on this idea when we discuss the eighth Attribute.

(Although there is much to be said on this topic, in today’s post we will be focusing on some of the other lessons to be learnt from this Attribute. For more information on finding the “good points” in ourselves and others, see Rebbe Nachman’s famous lesson “Azamra!” (Likutey Moharan I, 282). See also one of our previous posts on this subject at https://www.shiurenjoyment.com/2022/05/03/love-your-neighbor-finding-the-good/.)

Rebbe Nachman teaches, “To be a righteous person, one must be both a Torah scholar and a chassid, performing acts of kindness. It is necessary to be a Torah scholar, for our Sages state: ‘A brute is not sin-fearing, nor is an ignorant person pious’ (Avos 2:5). But to be only a Torah scholar without good deeds is equally worthless. A person must be both.”

Rav Yoel Teitlebaum, the Satmar Rebbe, once honored Rabbi Elimelech “Mike” Tress, the Administrative President for Agudas Yisrael of America, and the man responsible for saving thousands of Jews during the Holocaust. Some of the Satmar Rebbe’s younger students brazenly asked how he could honor someone without a beard. “Surely the Rebbe knows the importance of having a beard,” they said. The Satmar Rebbe looked at them and said, “You’re right. When that man leaves this world, the Heavenly Court may ask, ‘Yid Yid, where’s your beard?’ But when you leave this world, they will ask, ‘Beard Beard, where’s your Yid?!’”

As Rebbe Nachman teaches, action is the main thing. And from this Attribute, we learn the power of a good deed. As Rebbe Nachman teaches, no word or deed is ever lost. While we may not always see the fruits of our labor immediately, we should remember that every act of kindness – every door held open, every listening ear, every coin to charity, etc. – is precious and will act as our defense line.

As it states in Perkei Avos, “With each good deed, a person acquires an advocating angel.” When the prosecutors and destructive angels rise up against us, our good deeds will act as our shield and protection.

Similarly, the Maggid of Mezeritch said, “Hashem uses man’s good deeds as seeds to plant trees in his Gan Eden.” It may not be noticeable just yet, but in time, we will see the incredible effect of each action.

Rebbe Nachman teaches, “You must learn the Thirteen Attributes of Compassion and Kindness – learn them in order to fulfill them in practice. Cultivate the quality of kindness and do as many kindnesses as you can for other people. Then the Thirteen Supernal Attributes of Compassion are aroused, and the destructive angels brought into being through sin are subdued and eradicated. Our own acts of kindness arouse Hashem’s forgiveness, and He passes over our sins one after the other.”  

In this way, the giver of compassion typically benefits more than the receiver. Rabbi Moshe Kormornick offers the following parable: “Reuven and Shimon met in Heaven. In life, Reuven was very needy, his observance was shaky, and he required a lot of attention and encouragement. Shimon was a dedicated and religious Jew and spent a lot of energy keeping Reuven afloat. When they met, Shimon was delighted and exclaimed, ‘Reuven, I’m so glad that I got you here!’… ‘Actually,’ replied Reuven, ‘it was me who got you here!’”

Lastly, we must never underestimate simple acts of kindness. Every action, no matter how seemingly insignificant, leaves an impression. As Rebbe Nachman teaches, “Always wear a smile. The gift of life will then be yours to give. Sometimes people are terribly distressed but have no one to whom they can unburden themselves. If you come along with a happy face, you cheer them and give them new life.”

As Rabbi Shais Taub said, “To the world you may be just one person, but to one person you may just be the world.”

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