Which Way To Choose
Consider three things, and you will not come to the hands of transgression: Know what is above from you: a seeing eye, a listening ear, and all your deed are recorded in a book. Pirkei Avot 2.1
Actions are never forgotten; they leave a mark on the person, on his environment and on other people.
This book that is written is not written by G-d but by each of us. It is written by our actions. This Book is one’s soul. Goodness, good/kind deeds add splendor to one’s soul, unkind deeds besmirch one’s soul. After we die our soul will give an accounting of those deeds to G-d.
Shimon the Righteous was among the last surviving members of the Great assembly. He would say: The world stands on three things: Torah, the service of G‑d, and deeds of kindness. Pirkei Avot 1.2
Studying Torah builds spiritual, eternal souls out of mere mortals.
Service of G-d alludes to: love the Lord your G-d, and to serve Him with all your heart and with all your soul. Devarim (Deuteronomy) 11.13 This gives worth and wholeness to our human existence.
Deeds of Kindness (Chesed). The world is built by chesed. Telilim (Psalms) 89.3
Chesed is the highest degree of pure human worth.
If I am not for myself, who is for me?
And if I am only for myself, what am I?
And if not now, when? Pirkei Avot 1.14
Life is short, if we do not act now with deeds of kindness, when will we?
Blessings and Peace
Rebbetzin Revi Belk
