By: Lt. Gabriel Shnaider
Boguer Magshim – HH B’Perú
What sustains the people of Israel throughout time, beyond its history, land, or language? What invisible force keeps it united even in the darkest of times? In this article, I invite you to look toward chesed—that quiet, constant kindness that flows from person to person, like a thread weaving communities, spanning generations, and giving life to a lived Torah.
Once, I was invited to an army ceremony in the south of the country. Knowing the event would end late and far from home, I arranged for my unit to provide a car. The only condition was that I had to return the car to base that same night before heading home. Even so, it was more convenient than taking public transportation all the way. At the end of the ceremony, I asked if anyone needed a ride to the city center. It wasn’t out of the way and I had empty seats—eventually, the car was full.
During the drive, another car behind me was trying to overtake, but I wasn’t letting it pass. The officer riding in the passenger seat said, “Gabriel, slow down and let them go ahead. If you do chesed for others, others will repay you with chesed as well.” A few minutes later, I missed an exit, and another driver stopped to let me correct my course. The officer turned to me with a smile and said, “See? I told you.”
I decided I wanted more—I wanted to do more chesed and thus receive more in return. Instead of dropping everyone off at the train station, I took each person to their home. These detours added nearly two hours to my trip, but they were all grateful and happy—even though I still had to return the car to base and then get home myself.
After returning the car, I was waiting at the bus stop when a car pulled over. It was a friend from base in a similar situation—she also had to return a car to a different base. Taking me home would delay her by over 30 minutes, and it was already late, but she agreed with a smile. When we arrived at my place, I told her that just as she helped me, I was sure someone would help her too—and so it was. She later met a friend who gave her a ride home.
Understanding the Concept
Chesed can be understood as a favor, an act of mercy or heartfelt generosity. A selfless act simply to help and do good. Acts of chesed arise when we are united, socially responsible, when we care for one another and live with trust and a shared purpose: to be and do good. This is the deepest, purest, and central message of the entire Torah.
There is a Midrash that says: “The Torah begins with chesed and ends with chesed.” G-d clothes Adam and Eve when they are naked, and buries Moses when no one else could. Between those two seemingly simple but deeply human acts lies the whole Torah.
The Link Between Chesed and Shavuot
And so comes Shavuot—the holiday of receiving the Torah. Not just any Torah, but specifically one built upon the pillar of chesed, of love in action, of commitment to others, of sensitivity toward those who are alone, exposed, or vulnerable.
That is why we read Megillat Ruth, which is above all, a story of chesed: genuine, selfless, and committed acts of kindness. From the very beginning, Ruth shows chesed by choosing not to abandon her mother-in-law Naomi, even though it means leaving behind her land, people, and secure future. Instead of returning to Moab, she chooses to accompany Naomi in her pain and poverty, fully committing to her. Naomi, in turn, welcomes that loyalty and integrates Ruth into her life in Israel. In Bethlehem, Ruth continues her chesed by gleaning in the fields to sustain both of them, risking herself as a foreign and poor woman. Boaz, the landowner, also shows chesed by protecting her, offering food and water, and instructing his workers to treat her with respect and generosity. Later, Naomi guides Ruth on how to approach Boaz as a potential redeemer, showing care for her future. Boaz, recognizing Ruth’s worth, accepts the responsibility and marries her, securing the family’s lineage. The birth of Oved, Ruth’s son, is described as a new light for Naomi, who embraces him as her own. Every character acts out of love, loyalty, and deep commitment to the other, building a chain of chesed that sustains the story of the Jewish people. From that chain would come King David, and eventually the Mashiach who will bring redemption to all of Am Israel.
The Mission of the Present
This is the message of the Torah we receive and celebrate on Shavuot. Now more than ever, we must strive to bring more chesed—this is the mission of our time!
In the reality we lived in Israel up until October 6, 2023, acts of chesed were overshadowed by social unrest, intolerance, a lack of dialogue, and bias driven by a lack of critical thinking—all of which led to destruction, division, and baseless hatred. We weakened from within and, to some extent, failed history’s test: once again, as in the final days of the Second Temple, disunity made us vulnerable.
Military intelligence reports said the same: our enemies saw our weakness and seized the opportunity to strike.
Unlike the Roman destruction of 70 CE, this time we did not go into exile—we stayed. And we understood what we needed to fix in order to remain. Despite the shock and immense pain, we were able to return to our roots. In the days following October 7, when the earth trembled beneath our feet, the deepest part of our DNA emerged with strength: chesed. Hands extended without asking who, where, or why. Entire families opened their homes to the displaced, communities organized support networks, thousands ran to donate, to accompany, to embrace. Countless reservists arrived without even receiving an official call—they answered the call of duty and of the heart. Without decrees or orders, the silent force that has kept us alive for millennia was activated: mutual commitment, human dignity, love for our land and for those who inhabit it.
More than 600 days have now passed, and our hope and prayers are focused solely on silence, peace, and victory. We must not let “routine” or political agendas distract us. Now more than ever, we understand that the Torah is not received just once. The Torah is accepted every day, in every decision to care, to listen, and to act with kindness.
That is our Mount Sinai today. That is the covenant we must renew and keep alive.
Chag Shavuot Sameach.
May we merit to receive once again our Torah of chesed, and transform it into a way of life and a cornerstone of our education.
