Timeless TorahTRUE KINDNESS (24:49)
Sarah, the first Matriarch, had died. Abraham, the founding father of our people, was getting on in years. Without question, an era was about to pass. So finding a suitable wife for Isaac and the passing of the mantle must have seemed like a good idea to Abraham. So with his usual alacrity, our forefather dispatched his trusted servant Eliezer with specific instructions, “Find a wife - and quick.”
A distant relative is discovered, Rivkah, daughter of Besuel. As part of the ‘negotiations’, the servant asks the parents of the bride-to-be their consent to immediately return with Rivkah to Canaan. Here are Eliezer’s words, “If you will deal kindly and truly with my master,” At first glance, Eliezer’s words seem rather puzzling. Here he was requesting Rebecca’s parents to show kindness to Abraham by letting their daughter go with him, so why add the phrase “and truly”? If they would let Rivkah go, wouldn’t this action itself prove the truth and sincerity of their deeds?
The answer to this question is unfortunately - NO! There is a huge gap between chessed/ (kindness) and emmes (truth i.e. sincerity). Throughout history, the Jew has been famous for his chessed, his good-heartedness and generosity. But emmes is a little more difficult to find. Too often, potential donors turn a cold shoulder in circumstances where there is no opportunity for public recognition.
So rare is the harmonious combination of these two traits that Rashi, the great Torah commentator, maintains that sincere kindness is only to be found in such acts as are exemplified by honoring the dead! Why this specific area is singled out should be obvious. Since the recipient of the kindness in this case will never be able to repay, the do-gooder cannot be suspected of having any ulterior motives. Nowadays, however, even this classic case of “Chessed Shel Emmes” (sincere kindness) is often difficult to determine. Having been involved in many funerals, one wonders how many present are there to “honor the dead” or….to “please the living.”
- Login to post comments