CHESED AND KEDUSHA

The lines were out the store as everyone was caught up in the lottery fever.  They were all anticipating winning billions of dollars and for two dollars everyone bought a dream. And then I saw an interesting e-mail that said "I always wanted to win the lottery, but tonight I looked around my beautiful family and realized I already have!"

    I often wonder, “Do we really appreciate and enjoy the Blessings that  Hashem bestows upon us , or are we so involved in our daily activities that we are  indifferent to the Bràchot of life?” 

  "Life is one 'now' after another, and the now waits for no one"

  One of the most important and at the same time one of the most difficult episodes to truly comprehend in Avraham’s life is the Akedah - when he was instructed to bring his son up as a sacrifice to G-D. Avraham listened to Hashem and Yitzchaksurvived.  There are still many unanswered questions, but for now I would like to pursue one avenue of thought, that I heard from the Rav.

  The Rav said, “Although Avraham did not actually slay Yitzchak at the Akedah, he felt that the sacrifice took place, and a new Yitzchak emerged. 

  Kabbalah explains that Avraham personified the attribute of Chesed, of Loving Kindness, which suggests the idea of Hispashtut, of expansion. This idea relates that we are to take in many people, sharing with others, reaching out to others and thereby being Mekarev them to our way of thinking.  This is what Avraham continuously did.

  Yitzchak, on the other hand, personified Gevurah,Power, which implies Tzimtzum, Self Contractionand Self Limitation, which manifested itself in, Perishuth, separating oneself from the community, so that he could devote himself, exclusively to the Almighty. For Yitzchak it was an aspect of Kedusha.That is why he was not permitted to leave the Land of Israel. Yitzchak personified Kedusha,metaphorically speaking, for he was the sacrifice at the Akedah, and there is no greater form of Kedusha than being a Korban, A Sacrifice.

   I sense that not much is divulged about Yitzchak, primarily, for this reason.  For Kedusha is to be covered up and Hashem wanted, like all aspects of Kedusha should   remain a Mysterium, separated from the world. 

  From then on the Jewish People have enveloped themselves in both personality traits, Chesed and Kedusha.

  In fact, it is for this reason that there is a Parochet on the Aron, and we cover the Sefer Torahwith a Mantel -for that which is holy loses its’ special standing in our eyes through casualness, ready access and over familiarity. 

    This is our Goal in Judaism, to act with a great sense of Chesed, and never forsake the goal to achieve greater Kedusha by acting with more Anivut, and with more selflessness, and less selfishness. 

  With these thoughts, in mind I would like to share with you an interesting and fascinating story that  has a long lasting lesson for all to learn. 

  The story is entitled "A Glass of Milk".

   One day a poor boy was selling goods from door to door to pay his way through school.  He found that he had only one dime left and he was hungry. He decided he would ask for a meal at the next house. 

  However, he lost his nerve when a lovely young woman opened the door. Instead of a meal he asked for a drink of water. She thought he looked hungry, so she brought him a large glass of milk. 

   He drank it slowly and then asked, "How much do I owe you?"

  “You don't owe me anything,” she replied. “Mother taught me never to accept money for kindness.” 

   He answered, “I thank you from the bottom of my heart.” 

  As Howard Kelly left that house, he not only felt stronger, physically, but his faith in G-D and man was strengthened too. He had been ready to give up and quit. 

  Years later that young woman was critically ill. The local doctors were baffled. They finally sent her to the big city where they called in specialists to study her rare disease. 

  Dr. Howard Kelly was called in for the consultation. 

  When he heard the name of the town where she came from, a strange light filled his eyes. 

  Immediately he rose and went down the hall of the hospital to her room. Dressed in his Doctors gown, he went into see her. He recognized her at once. 

  He went back to the consultation room, determined to do his best to save her life. 

  From that day on he gave special attention to the case. After a long struggle the battle was won. 

    Dr. Kelly requested that the hospital's office pass the final bill to him for approval. He looked at it and wrote something on the edge of the bill. 

   When the bill arrived in her room she feared to open it, for she was sure it would take the rest of her life to pay it. She opened it slowly but something caught her attention on the side of the bill. 

She read these words, "Paid in full with one glass of milk!"

And it was signed "Dr. Howard Kelly.” 

Tears of joy flooded her eyes as her happy heart prayed, "Thank You, G-D, that Your love has reached abroad, through human hearts and hands"

This a true story. 

  Remember what goes around comes around, that of the Chesed of Avraham, and the Kedusha of Yitzchak. 

  May we learn to live a life of righteousness from our forefathers and from a Doctor with a Heart.