Compassion and the Heart of Jewish Spirituality An ELI Talk by Rabbi Shai Held

(22) If you carefully keep all these commandments I am giving you--to love Adonai your God, walk in God's ways, and hold fast to God...

(6) They taught the following explanation of this commandment: "Just as God is called 'Gracious,' you too must be gracious. Just as God is called 'Compassionate,' you too must be compassionate. Just as God is called 'Holy,' you too must be holy." In this way did the Prophets call God by many appellations: "Slow to anger," "Abundant in kindness," "Just and Fair," "Pure," "Mighty," and "Powerful," and similar to these - in order to demonstrate that these are good and proper ways and that a person is obligated to accustom himself/herself to act according to them, to imitate God, according to his/her ability.

As God clothes the naked, as it is written, 'And the Adonai G-d made for Adam and his wife cloaks of leather, and he clothed them (Genesis 3:21);' so you, too clothe the naked. The Blessed Holy One visited the sick, as it is written, 'And God appeared in Ailonei Mamrei [while Abraam was in pain] (Genesis 18:1);' so you, too, visit the sick. The Blessed Holy One comforted mourners, as it is written, 'And it was, after the death of Abraham, and G-d blessed his son Isaac (Genesis 25:11);' so you,too, comfort mourners. The Blessed Holy One buried the dead, as it is written, 'And [God] buried [Moses] in the valley (Deuteronomy 34:6);' so you, too, bury the dead."