|
 |
|
Judaism’s foundation is embedded in social awareness and acts of kindness. Chessed, (pronounced khe-sed, is Hebrew for compassion and loving-kindness), according to Ethics of Our Fathers, is one of three pillars that support the world. It was said by Shimon HaTzaddik (Simon the Righteous) that the world continues to exist because of three things: Torah Study, the worship of Hashem, and the performance of "gemilut chasadim," or "acts of kindness." The Talmudic sage, Rabbi Akiva, is famous for saying that "’loving your neighbor as you love yourself’ (Leviticus 19:18) is a fundamental rule in the Torah.” And Old Rabbi Hillel asserted, when asked to summarize the Torah: "What is hateful to you, do not do to others,” from which one can extrapolate – the converse – “Do for others what you would want done for you.”.
|
|