THE BLESSING OF TRUE KINDNESS

בס "ד

UN PENSAMIENTO SOBRE PARSHAT CHAYEI SARA 5786

The Blessing of True Kindness

“Abraham was old, well advanced in years, and the L-rd had blessed Abraham in all things.”
(Genesis 24:1)

When the Torah tells us that Abraham had grown old and was “blessed in all things,” at first glance it seems like a simple statement: he had wealth, honor, and children. Yet our sages raised a fundamental question: the reward for good deeds is generally reserved for the World to Come. How, then, could Abraham be blessed here and now – with everything?

The Double Blessing

En Netivot Shalom y Be’er Mayim Chaim offer a deeper insight: the reward for a mitzvah comes in two layers.

1. The eternal reward, preserved for the World to Come.
2. The fruits of the mitzvah in this world, which one may already experience.

This blessing in the present is not the result of merely following rules, but of deeds that bring goodness to others. Those who spread kindness receive goodness in return—not as payment, but as a reflection of who they have become.

Chesed Shel Emet – True Kindness

After describing Sarah’s burial, the Torah continues:

“Then Abraham buried his wife Sarah in the cave of the field of Machpelah… And Abraham was old, well advanced in years, and the Lord had blessed Abraham in all things.”
(Genesis 23:19–24:1)

En Be’er Mayim Chaim notes that these verses follow directly, signaling cause and effect. Abraham’s personal care in burying his wife is exactly why he was blessed with “everything.”

Burying the dead is what our sages call chesed shel emet – true kindness. A deed that cannot be repaid, because the deceased can give nothing in return. Its intent is completely pure. In such selflessness lies the highest form of love. Abraham was blessed because he himself had become a blessing.

Blessing in the Here and Now

The Torah is not saying Abraham received his reward prematurely, but that his goodness was so pure it bore fruit in this world.

True compassion transforms not only the life of the recipient but also the life of the giver. “Blessed in all things” does not mean Abraham possessed everything, but that he became everything—fully aligned with the purpose for which he was created.

A Lesson for All People

Kindness is not exclusive to one nation. Anyone, in the spirit of Abraham, can become a source of blessing. For those following the Noahide path, this means not waiting for a future reward, but recognizing that every act of compassion in this life is itself a form of blessing.

When someone helps another—offers comfort, assistance, or respect—it reflects the divine spark present in every human being.

A notable example is caring for the dead. While cremation is not forbidden for Noahides, burial in the earth is considered the most natural and dignified choice: the human returns to the soil from which they were formed. The Talmud even praises those who bury non-Jews, out of respect for every person created in the image of God.

Ways to Care for the Deceased

The Torah regards caring for the dead as one of the highest forms of kindness. Some ways to do this include:

• Lighting a candle, It is a form of remembrance and tribute, and the light holds symbolic meaning.
• Visiting the grave and placing a stone, as a sign of respect and connection.
• Maintaining the grave, ensuring it does not fall into disrepair or become overgrown, and keeping the resting place in honor.
• Giving charity (tzedakah) in the deceased’s name, contributing, improving one’s behavior, or bringing a little more light into the world.
• Reciting Psalms at the grave, to strengthen connection and offer comfort. Even if not at the grave, one can recite psalms. In some cases, it might be a problem, such as in a cemetery with a lot of icons and crosses.
• Commitment to spiritual growth, improving your own observance of mitzvot and inspiring children to do the same.
• Prayer for a Departed Soul
  May G-d remember the soul of [mention the deceased person’s given names], son/daughter of [mention the given names of his/her parents*] who has gone on to his/her world. By virtue of my praying on his/her behalf, and – without making a vow – my intent to donate to charity on his/her behalf, may his/her soul be bound in the Bond of Life together with the souls of the righteous, and let us say: Amen.¹¹
  
  *If the names of at least one parent are not known, use Noah if the deceased is a Gentile, or Abraham if the deceased is a Jew.

Through these acts, memory is transformed into deeds, and deeds into blessing. The life of the deceased continues to impact the world and spread goodness.

The Deepest Blessing

At the end of his life, Abraham was blessed “in all things.” Perhaps this does not mean he possessed everything, but that he had learned that everything he had was a gift to bless others. His life became a stream of giving—and in that, he found wholeness.

The lesson of Chayei Sara is timeless: the true blessing of life lies in acts of goodness, especially when no one sees them and they cannot be repaid. When we embody this kindness—Jews and Noahides together—we carry forward a piece of Abraham’s blessing into the world.

“The reward for a mitzvah is… another mitzvah.”
Not because G-d is obligated, but because kindness naturally multiplies.

Por Angelique Sijbolts
With thanks to Rabbi Tani Burton for the feedback

Fuentes:

• Netivot Shalom, Genesis 24:1

Be’er Mayim Chaim, Genesis 23:19–24:1

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