EXOD366 (Continued from [[DEUT650]] Deuteronomy 13:18 merciful TZADIK 161). And if you wish to be merciful to your children and your relatives and to accord them great honor, then occupy yourselves with Torah study and good deeds in love and kindness. This will result in great honor and good to them, for they will be honored and not shamed through you. There is no greater shame than having parents and relatives who are wicked. If one's father is a thief or a robber or is guilty of a blatant transgression that is despised in the eyes of the world, all of his children are condemned after him for generations to follow, being branded as "the descendants of that wicked man." Also, children die because of the sins of the fathers, as it is written [this verse]: "Visiting the sins of the fathers upon the children until the third and fourth generation of those who hate me." Reflect--is there anyone more cruel than he who brings death to his children because of his sin? And there is no one more merciful to his children than the righteous man, for his merits endure for 1,000 generations. For Avraham bound his son for the sacrifice and the Holy One Blessed Be He swore to remember that merit for his children throughout the generations; and when the Jews sinned with the golden calf, Moshe our teacher may peace be upon him, arose in prayer and said (Shemos 32:13): "Remember Avraham, Yitzchak, and Yaakov, Your servants." Likewise, King Shelomo said (II Divrei Hayamim 6:42): "Remember the kindness of David, your servant"--and they were answered. Similarly, we mention the merits of the Fathers every day. Therefore, know that there are none so cruel as those who transgress.