STS Pillar #4 פותח את ידיך

And Rabbi Ḥama, son of Rabbi Ḥanina, says: What is the meaning of the verse which is written: “After the Lord your God shall you walk [and Him shall you fear, and His commandments shall you keep, and to His voice shall you listen, and Him shall you serve, and to Him shall you cling”] (Deuteronomy 13:5)? Is it possible for a person to follow the Divine Presence?! But hasn’t it already been stated: “For the Lord your God is a consuming fire” (Deuteronomy 4:24).

Rather, [this means that] one should follow the qualities of the Holy One, who is blessed. Just as He clothes the naked, as it is written: “And the Lord God made for Adam and for his wife garments of skin, and clothed them” (Genesis 3:21), so too, should you clothe the naked. The Holy One, who is blessed, visits the sick, as it is written “And the Lord appeared unto him [Abraham] by the terebinths of Mamre” (Genesis 18:1), so too you should visit the sick. The Holy One, who is blessed, comforts mourners, as it is written: “And it came to pass after the death of Abraham, that God blessed Isaac his son” (Genesis 25:11), so too you should comfort mourners. The Holy One, who is blessed, buried the dead, as it is written: “And he [Moses] was buried in the valley in the land of Moab” (Deuteronomy 34:6), so too you should bury the dead.

Rabbi Simlai taught: The Torah's beginning is Deeds of Compassion, and its end is Deeds of Compassion. Its beginning is Deeds of Compassion, as it is written: “And the Lord God made for the man and for his woman garments of skin, and He clothed them” (Genesis 3:21). And its end is Deeds of Compassion, as it is written: “And he [Moses] was buried in the valley in the land of Moab” (Deuteronomy 34:6).

It is a rabbinic positive commandment to visit the sick, comfort the mourners, take out the dead [for burial], bring in the bride [for her wedding], escort the [departing] guests, and to involve oneself with all the needs of burial [such as] to carry [the deceased] on one's shoulder, to walk before him, to eulogize, to dig [the grave], and to bury. And similarly [one is commanded] to cause the bride and groom to rejoice, and to assist them in whatever they need. And these [duties] are the Deeds of Compassion which are done with one's own person, which have no set measure. Even though all of these are rabbinic commandments, in fact they are included within [the biblical verse] "You shall love your companion as yourself" (Leviticus 19:18), [meaning] all things that you would want others to do for you, do them yourself for your brother in Torah and commandments.

The reward for escorting guests is greater than anything else. It is the rule established by our father Abraham, and the way of kindness that he practiced. He would serve food and drink to travelers and escort them [when they left]. And hosting guests is greater than receiving the Divine Presence, as it is stated: "He [Abraham] saw three men […and he ran to meet them]" (Genesis 18:2). And escorting them [on their way] is greater than hosting them. The Sages have said: Anyone who does not escort [his guests], it's as if he sheds their blood (Sotah 46b).

We are obligated to be more careful with the commandment of tzedakah than any other positive commandment, for tzedakah is a sign of the righteous [tzadik], the offspring of Abraham our father, as it is stated, "For I have known him in order that he may charge his children [to keep the way of the LORD] to do justice [tzedakah]" (Genesis 18:19). And the throne of Israel is not established, and the religion of truth does not endure, except through tzedakah, as it is stated, "You shall be established through tzedakah" (Isaiah 54:14). And Israel will not be redeemed except through tzedakah, as it is stated, "Zion shall be saved through justice, and those who return through tzedakah" (Isaiah 1:27).

No one ever becomes poor by giving tzedakah, and nothing bad, nor any harm, ever results from tzedakah, as it is stated, "And the work of tzedakah shall be peace" (Isaiah 32:17). Anyone who shows mercy will be shown mercy, as it is stated, He will show you mercy and in your mercy He will multiply you." (Deut 13:18) And anyone who is cruel and does not show mercy, his Jewish lineage is suspect. For cruelty is only found among idolators, as it is stated, "They are cruel and show no mercy" (Jeremiah 50:42). But all Israel and those who have joined them are like brothers, as it is stated, "You are children of the Lord your God" (Deut 14:1). And if a brother does not show mercy to a brother, who will?

If a poor person asks of you, but you have nothing on hand to give him, console him with words. And it is forbidden to criticize a poor person or to shout at him, for his heart is broken and crushed. Indeed it says, "God, you will not despise a broken and crushed heart" (Psalms 51:19). And it says, "[God] revives the spirit of the lowly, and revives the heart of the crushed" (Isaiah 57:15). And woe to anyone who shames the poor! Woe to him! Rather, one should be like a father to him, both in mercy and in words, as it is said, "I am a father to those in need" (Job 29:15).