blogs/rabbi-huberman

“The Torah begins with kindness and ends with kindness,” declared my late mentor, Rabbi Joseph Ehrenkranz, as he paced behind his desk wagging his finger.

Rabbi Joe was quoting a piece of Talmud which he considered, perhaps, the most important in our tradition.

But, after reciting the quote Rabbi Joe paused, and, bouncing on his heels, looked at me and posed a question that concerned him until his passing more than six years ago.

“Why didn’t we learn this passage about kindness on the first day of Hebrew school — or for that matter — on the first day of rabbinical school?"

I think about that Talmudic quote every year at this time, as we complete the reading of the Torah on the holiday of Simchat Torah.

The Talmud notes that none of us can be God. None of us can be a “burning bush,” but we can emulate the acts of kindness God performs in the Torah.

The Talmud notes that just as God clothed Adam and Eve — so we must clothe the naked. Just as God visited Abraham after his circumcision, so we should visit those who are ill. God comforted Isaac after Abraham’s death, therefore we should comfort the mourner. And just as God buried Moses at the end of the Torah, so we should lay our own to rest. (Sotah 14a).

And that is why, according to the Talmud, “the Torah begins with kindness and ends of kindness” — and everything in between — I believe — is ultimately based on kindness.

Is there anything else we need to know about Judaism? There is no specific commandment in the Torah to be kind. But when we read the commandment to “love your neighbor as yourself,” who, among us, does not wish to be treated kindly?

It is one reason why — at the beginning of each year’s Limud Hebrew school year, when we were able to hold an initial assembly — I addressed Rabbi Joe’s concern by teaching this basic passage to all of our children.

There is another reason why this teaching is so precious to me. When I learned it in rabbinical school, I shared it with my mentor.

Rabbi Joe claimed he had never heard it before, at least at Yeshiva University where he was ordained during the early 1950s. He thanked me for sharing it. That act of teaching something to my teacher made me feel proud, but a few years later, as I continue writing his memoirs, it occurs to me that he knew this passage all along.

And I thought to myself, “Pshhhht.”

"What an incredible act of kindness."

Indeed, there are acts of kindness that we can perform every day, which are especially important during this time of the pandemic.

We mask ourselves and social distance. We make a phone call to someone who is housebound. We offer to shop for someone who is unable to do so.

And, through these acts, we echo how God performed acts of chesed — kindness — in the Torah. There exists within each of us the potential to perform acts of “godness” — for each of us is only as good as the next thing that we do.

Since the High Holidays, I’ve been thinking about those in our lives — past and present — who we’ve looked up to. Many of you have shared stories about your grandparents, parents or others who have taught you to honor tradition, and to love your neighbor.

We can also dedicate ourselves to being that role model to our children, grandchildren and others.

This can involve donating food to the food pantry or bringing coats to the synagogue so that they can be distributed to those in need; or to supporting shelters within our immediate area and beyond, or being charitable to a needy stranger.

We can also be more patient with those around us. If we take a moment to look hard enough within every human being, there is something to praise and encourage within everyone.

This weekend, as we complete Judaism’s 40-day period of introspection, with the echo of the High Holiday services still in our ears, let us dedicate ourselves to finding God in everyone.

Kindness, patience and optimism are such important lessons, as we complete the reading of the Torah, and begin anew.

Rabbi Joe taught that each of us should live our lives and our Judaism with joy. And if we’re not feeling the joy of each mitzvah — “then, perhaps, we are not doing it right.”

And so, as we complete the reading of the Torah this Sunday on Simchat Torah, let us reflect upon the words of the Talmud that rest at the core of Judaism.

Perhaps — in everything we do — we need to ask ourselves, “Where is the kindness?,” and, in turn, model this value for those who look up to us.

As the holy days come to a close, may we bless each other so that our words and our actions will always be for good. We often ask ourselves — in today’s fractured world — “Where is the kindness?”

To that question, the great mentors of our lives would answer, without fear of contradiction, “The kindness begins with us.”

Chag Sameach. Happy Holidays. Shabbat Shalom.

Rabbi Irwin Huberman