Rabbi Howard Morrison

Dear Congregational Family,

A dying Jacob implores upon his son Joseph to take an oath saying to his son, "Treat me with truthful kindness; please do not bury me in Egypt."

This "truthful kindness," called "Chesed ve'Emet" in the Biblical text became known in Jewish tradition as a religious category called, "Chesed shel Emet," literally, "kindness of truth."

All of the Mitzvot and traditions we observe from the time of death through the finality of burial fall under a category loosely called, the highest forms of loving kindness that one can do for another. Rashi, quoting from an earlier teaching, explains that when it comes to performing kindness in memory of a loved one who has died, there is no reciprocity coming from the deceased person. This is why these particular deeds of loving kindness are uniquely special. Conversely, in life, when one performs an act of kindness for the other even altruistically, the other, in turn, has the opportunity to reciprocate.

I hope that we will all do acts of "Chesed" throughout life and especially the specific deeds of "truthful kindness" when the time calls for them.

Shabbat Shalom,

Rabbi Howard Morrison