1. Hesed חֶסֶד Kindness (c) Behrman House/Babaganewz

2. Hesed can be translated as kindness, or loving- kindness. With a true act of loving-kindness, there are no ulterior motives. It is unconditional: it is giving something and expecting nothing in return. (c) Behrman House/Babaganewz

3. Avraham personified the value of hesed by doing the mitzvah of greeting guests even though he had just undergone brit milah, circumcision. Can you think of another example of hesed that might be hard or require us to step outside our comfort zones? Judaism teaches that hesed begins at home. Dilemma: Your mother asked you to help clean the house for guests, but then a neighbor asks you to watch her children while she cooks dinner. How could you handle this situation? (c) Behrman House/Babaganewz

4. “The world stands on three things: Torah, service (of God), and acts of loving-kindness.” (Pirkei Avot 1:2) o What does it mean that “the world stands” on these things? o In what ways are Torah, service, and acts of loving-kindness related? o Why are these particular things pillars of the world? (c) Behrman House/Babaganewz

5. “The world is built with kindness.” (Psalms 89:3) o What does it mean to "build the world" with kindness? o In what ways can doing hesed actually build the world? (c) Behrman House/Babaganewz

6. Why are these qualities described as gifts to Israel? How do each of these gifts benefit the community? Are Jewish people more merciful, modest, and kind than other people? Should we be? (c) Behrman House/Babaganewz “Three gifts did God give to Israel: people who are merciful, people who are modest, and people who perform acts of kindness.” (Bamidbar Rabbah 8)

7. “Rabbi Isaac said: One who gives a small coin to a poor person receives six blessings, and one who speaks to the poor words of cheer receives eleven blessings.” (Bava Batra 9b) (c) Behrman House/Babaganewz Giving material assistance is a kind of hesed. But what type of giving is even more valuable? Give a practical example. What are “words of cheer”?

8. (c) Behrman House/Babaganewz

9. The Chicken Lady (c) Behrman House/Babaganewz

10. 1. What personal life experience drives The Chicken Lady of Jerusalem to feed 900 children every week? 2. What message does Mrs. Hammer leave us with at the end of the clip? 3. What do you find most impressive about this real-life story of hesed? Note: Mrs. Hammer z”l passed away on March 25, 2010. May her memory be for a blessing. (c) Behrman House/Babaganewz

11. What is the most selfless act of hesed that you have done in the past year? Think of three acts of hesed that you would like to take on this year. How will you get started doing these acts of hesed? (c) Behrman House/Babaganewz