We continue on the topic of Ahavat Yisrael regarding strangers. As we have discussed, we should not limit our hessed to our own type of people.
There is a beautiful commentary from the Hidushei HaRim, one of the original Gerrer Rebbes. The Torah, in Vayikrah, lists the unkosher birds. One of them is the Hasida. We don’t know exactly what this bird is, but Rashi explains that it’s called Hasida because it does acts of hessed/piousness with its friends, by giving them food.
The Hiddushei HaRim points out that if that’s the case, then the Hasida should be kosher, based on the Ramban that tells us that all of the unkosher birds are unkosher because they are cruel, they have claws; they are hunters and predators. And based on the simple pshat, the Ramban says that when we eat an animal, we take on that animal’s character traits. We are what we eat.
That’s why we eat docile animals such as sheep and cows. We don’t eat lizards, eagles or other types of predators. We eat from good, docile animals that have good middot. We don’t drink the milk of unkosher animals because that builds our nature.
So why is the Hasida, whose name means “pious,” unkosher? She does Hasidut, she goes beyond the call of duty. Isn’t that a wonderful bird?
In answer, the Hidushei HaRim looks carefully at the words of Rashi, which say that the Hasida does kindness with its friends.
But if you’re not on her list, and you’re not part of her clique, then she won’t help you.
That is a sign of Tumah/impurity, and we don’t want those kind of middot.
This is a shocking piece of information.
We have what seems to be to be a Baal hessed, but when she hears their last name, or what neighborhood they come from, she declines to help.
We have to understand that hessed is for everyone.
Lo Alenu, there are many hessed organizations in hospitals, and they don’t differentiate. Bikur Holim of X or Y doesn’t check to see what your last name is. They will bring you hot soup anyway. If you get a flat tire, Haveirim will take care of you anyway. If you are sick, Hatzalah will take care of of anyway.
None of the hessed organizations differentiate.
Of course, there is a concept that if you have a limited amount of funds, the poor of your city come first, and there are certain priorities. But the concept of only taking care of your own, of only doing kindness with your friends, is unacceptable.
Baruch Hashem we’ve seen many good examples.
Years ago there was a certain plight in one community, and a neighboring community held a drive for them.
There are many such cases. We have to realize that this is the Jewish way, and not be like this bird that only takes care of its own.