Ch. 41: The Love of the Nations

True Act of Lovingkindness from a Chassidic perspective, are not a natural product of human nature. All humans, by nature, have both human and animal tendencies. To manifest the human tendencies over the animal tendencies requires labor. The animal tendencies in most of us are basic and well-entrenched from childhood. So how does human society function?



A good deed can either raise or not raise a person, depending on the motivation behind it. So does this mean that you shouldn't help the old lady across the road anymore - supposedly the definition of good deeds doesn't even begin with preventing harm to another person. If you are able to protects someone from injury, to do so is not a good deed, it's preventing you from being an accomplice in their demise.



But is every good deed equally good. We know from personal experience that they're not.



There is a story of two Chassidim in the time of the Alter Rebbe who were sent to a particular Chassidic community to collect money for the redemption of hostages. (At the time, the

Russian local squires were in the habit of incarcerating any Jews that were caught without proper papers and incarcerating them until a ransom arrived for their release). When these Chassidim arrived and announced their mission to the heads of the community, they swung into action making lists of people with the amount to be paid by each household and sending out collectors to collect cash or the cash equivalents to be used in acquiring the needed money. When this had been accomplished, they sat down to a festive celebration of their great merit in being asked to participate in such a lofty undertaking. Every member of the community truly felt privileged to be a member, or a stock owner in modern terms, in the Alter Rebbe's organization - to pay in their share that guaranteed their connection to the Rebbe's works, and therefore to G-d purpose for them in this world.



This is what it means for Tzedaka to elevate a nation - after you pay in your fair share you should feel like the proud owner of stocks in G-d, Inc. It should make you feel more responsible and make you want to take a more active role as a steward in this organization you are a part of. You're not just a member in name, you're a due-paying, active participant. You feel better about yourself but not because you have bragging rights, you just feel like your toil on this planet has a justification and an outlet in something that's higher.